mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held up in rear, hampered over 11f out, ridden over 7f out, tailed off final 5f
ridden to lead after 1f, headed over 3f out, soon not much room and weakened
started very slowly, latched onto rear group after 3f, never dangerous
raced keenly towards rear, headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
led 1f, prominent, led again over 3f out, soon headed, lost action and eased, pulled up well over 1f out
held up towards rear, switched right and headway over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden 7f out, always behind
mid-division, headway over 5f out, weakened well over 1f out
in touch, went close 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
prominent, led 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
ridden leaving stalls, soon prominent, not much room and lost place over 3f out, no impression after
We will forgive PRAIRIE HAWK his latest effort and take him to get back to winning ways over course and distance, while Vanquisher and Sea Cliff can go well. Tim Vaughan's Prairie Hawk picked up a similar race here in December, when he stuck on very well and looked likely to be aboe to cope with a rise in the weights. He ran a stinker on the Fibresand last time out and he races here from 1lb lower than the mark he won off, so there is plenty of hope that he can get straight back to form. Vanquisher has been on a lengthy slide since winning off a mark of 71 in 2007, and even off similarly low marks as today's 49 he has found one too good on his last three starts, so we are happy to take him on again. Sea Cliff hosed up at Southwell last month and ran well again there last time, but he doesn't seem as happy on the Polytrack. Nounou sports a first-time visor and in such a poor race he is not without a chance over this trip, having gone close over an extended two miles last time. Taxman is 2lbs better off with the selection for a deficit of over two lengths and so he should therefore be able to close the gap, but we prefer the claims of Prairie Hawk.
Sea Cliff (IRE) 4-1co-fav (10-12) In touch, chased leader 5f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, soon hung right, headed 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 13, shd behind Sabancaya (10-7) at Southwell 1m 6f amt hcp (6) fbs in Jan.
Nounou 25-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, went second inside final furlong, ran on well, not quite reached winner, 2nd of 13, nk behind Lady Pilot (10-0) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Born West (USA) 28-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, weakened over 6f out, 13th of 14, well behind Quitit (8-13) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Oct.
Bolton Hall (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 10th of 14, 11l behind Duty Doctor (9-1) at Brighton 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Oct.
Spume (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (9-5) Slowly into stride, raced wide, held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, never nearer, 5th of 14, 3l behind Sir Liam (9-5) at Lingfield 2m sll hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Nothing Is Forever (IRE) 11-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 9, 7l behind Zuwaar (9-2) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
Taxman (IRE) 7-1 (8-8) Held up in rear, headway on inner over 2f out, driven over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Dansilver (9-7) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Bet Noir (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, always behind, 14th of 16, 30l behind Black Rain (9-4) at Windsor 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Vanquisher (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (9-1) Held up towards rear, pushed along and headway approaching 2f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Sir Liam (9-5) at Lingfield 2m sll hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Prairie Hawk (USA) 11-10fav (8-2) Prominent, ridden along over 4f, weakened over 2f, last of 6, 18l behind Orkney (8-10) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Dec.
Diktatorship (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) Prominent, led over 3f out, soon ridden, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 17, 9l behind Hawridge Star (10-10) at Haydock 1m 6f amt hcp 0-80 (5) hvy in Sept.
Rebel Raider (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Chased leader until over 4f out, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 5th of 8, 41l behind Zaffeu (9-1) at Southwell 1m 6f clm (6) fbs in Mar.
