pulled hard in rear, ridden halfway, never dangerous
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, soon one pace
stumbled start and lost ground, in rear, ridden and headway 1f out, stayed on
keen and held up towards rear, switched right over 2f out, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, ran on towards finish
made all, ridden 2f out, driven out
chased leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, until no extra inside final furlong
keen in touch, headway and hung left over 1f out, challenging winner when carried head high inside final furlong, kept on same pace
always in rear
pulled hard, chased winner until over 1f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, raced wide, keen in mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out
mid-division, ridden halfway, headway under pressure well over 1f out, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
Nonrunner
Elusive Warrior is our recommendation on this occasion with Sedgwick and Winthorpe put up as legitimate competition. Alan McCabe has done well with his horses over the winter and Elusive Warrior, who seemed to appreciate being switched to cheekpieces from blinkers, is our pick. Granted, his turf form does not hold a candle to that on the all-weather but the horse is fit and knows how to win. Sedgwick looked useful earlier in his career but probably just hasn't trained on as anticipated. The market will tell us plenty on his debut for Ian Williams. Winthorpe won well at Pontefract. That was his first success on ground with any measure of cut in it so it remains to be seen whether he can defy the penalty.Sands Of Barra is a thorough monkey of the highest order and while he has every capability of winning, it really depends on which mood we find him in. Gracie's Gift has placed in better company than this in the past and is very much respected as a consequence. Louisiade hasn't been on the turf off this mark for a while but had shown well in claiming grades over the winter. Elusive Warrior gets the nod in a trappy affair.
Louisiade (IRE) 16-1 (7-13) Close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 4th of 6, 7l behind Silver Hotspur (8-8) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Mar.
Winthorpe (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong to lead close home, won at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Mar beating Swinbrook (9-4) by a hd, 16 ran.
Sedgwick 16-1 (9-6) In touch, headway to lead over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Dark Energy (9-1) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Oct.
Sands of Barra (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) In touch, ridden along halfway, soon beaten, 17th of 20, 19l behind Nok Twice (8-10) at Redcar 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Mar.
Xpres Maite 9-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden halfway, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 16, 6l behind Winthorpe (8-10) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Mar.
Poppy's Rose 13-2 (8-13) Held up in rear, ridden halfway, headway over 1f out, never dangerous, 6th of 11, 4l behind Scarlet Oak (8-8) at Leicester 6f fll hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Messiah Garvey 20-1 (8-9) Towards rear and soon chased along, headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 7th of 20, 9l behind Nok Twice (8-10) at Redcar 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Mar.
Gracie's Gift (IRE) 11-2fav (9-1) Held up towards rear, some late progress, never a factor, 8th of 16, 13l behind Ellen's Girl (9-4) at Salisbury 1m app hcp (6) gs in Oct.
Elusive Warrior (USA) 16-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden clear 2f out, stayed on, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Mar beating The Geester (9-0) by 2l, 11 ran.
Fan Club 28-1 (8-8) Towards rear, never dangerous, last of 9, 33l behind Hoh Wotanite (9-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Five Wishes 9-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, outpaced over 3f out, soon ridden, weakening when edged right well over 1f out, no impression when hampered 1f out, 10th of 16, 9l behind Dendor (8-7) at Ayr 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Oct.
Guadaloup 15-2 (8-9) Soon pushed along in rear, never near leaders, 7th of 11, 9l behind Elusive Warrior (8-9) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Mar.
Surwaki (USA) 11-1 (11-7) Led, headed well over 2f out, kept on gamely, every chance entering final furlong, no extra near finish, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Snark (11-5) at Goodwood 1m 1f amt hcp (5) gd in Aug.
