slowly into stride, soon tracking leader, led over 3f out, soon ridden, kept on final furlong, caught post
held up towards rear, ridden and stayed on approaching final 2f
mid-division, weakened over 3f out
soon chasing leaders, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
prominent, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong
led for a furlong, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
led after 1f, headed over 4f out, soon ridden and weakened
held up, headway over 5f out, ridden to chase leader over 2f out, stayed on to lead post
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on approaching final furlong, no impression
very slow away, in rear, never on terms
behind from over 4f out
Nonrunner
Iftikhar gets another chance to come good at the expense of Backlash, Regency Malaya and Cross Ash. Mark Brisbourne's five-year-old has been costly to follow of late but has only been out of the money once in five starts since being switched to the all-weather here at Wolverhampton. On every single occasion bar one he has had his lead whittled away when it mattered most and some would question his resolution. The drop back in trip nearly paid off last time and in this weak contest we are prepared to give him and Shane Kelly another chance to time it right. Backlash managed to get her head in front in a poor race at Warwick in October, defying a six-month break into the bargain but disappointed at Lingfield next time. She remains lightly-raced though and in addition is five-pound better off with Regency Malaya for the two heads and a neck that separated them at the Surrey track a fortnight ago. Cross Ash seemed suited by the step up to this trip when third at Lingfield, and may be in the shake-up as well, but Iftikhar is preferred.
