chased leaders, led well over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, driven and one pace final 2f
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, pushed clear
always in rear
led after 1f, headed over 5f out, weakened 4f out
chased leaders until over 3f out
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, carried slightly left inside final furlong, no extra
led 1f, tracked leader, led over 5f out until well over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, every chance 1f out, soon hung left and no extra
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, edged left and kept on inside final f to go second toward finish, no impression on winner
Nonrunner
Spitting Image seemingly showed improved form on his debut for Mark Johnston when beating Reggae Rhythm by five lengths in course record time last month and is taken to confirm that form off today's 9lb higher mark with He's A Star and Precious Mystery rated the best of the remainder. The selection could hardly have been more impressive on his first outing for new connections last time and there is little to reason to suggest that he cannot reproduce that effort. Jackie Kiely has been running well in lesser grade on the Fibresand of late and could be of interest off his lightweight back on the Polytrack, while Webbswood Lad is less exposed than most of these and steps up in trip to a distance that may suit. Activist is another that now goes up in distance and should stay although a more obvious threat comes from Gay Kelleway's He's A Star, who has improved with every increase in distance that he has raced over. Precious Mystery, representing the in-form yard of Alan King, is entitled to be thereabouts along with Reggae Rhythm, who is a model of consistency. Spitting Image has the beating of Reggae Rhythm on running last time though and is taken to score again.
Webbswood Lad (IRE) 5-2fav (9-4) Mid-division, headway over 6f out, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 3rd of 12, 19l behind Piper General (8-12) at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stk (5) fbs in Nov.
Spitting Image (IRE) 6-1 (8-8) Mid-division, headway over 5f out, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on well, won at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov beating Reggae Rhythm (9-2) by 5l, 13 ran.
Reggae Rhythm (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Pulled hard, held up behind, headway 3f out, strong run to chase winner well inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Cayman Calypso (9-12) at Lingfield 2m amt hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Activist 17-2 (11-2) Towards rear, headway 5f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 13, 9l behind Cumbrian Knight (10-4) at W'hampton 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Precious Mystery (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (10-6) In touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 13, 12l behind Our Choice (10-12) at W'hampton 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Jackie Kiely 7-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Tharua (8-7) at Southwell 2m stk (7) fbs in Nov.
Countback (FR) 8-1 (9-0) Mid-division, good headway 6f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed, no extra final furlong, 4th of 13, 4l behind French Mannequin (8-10) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp (F4) pol in Mar.
He's A Star 14-1 (7-13) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Sun Hill (9-0) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (5) fbs in Nov.
