held up rear, effort, headway on inside over 2f out, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on
with leader, led over 5f out, headed over 3f out, weakened
led, headed over 5f out, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out but kept on same pace
in touch, ridden when hampered over 2f out, not recover
hung left, mid-division, ridden 3f out, plugged on
in touch, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
slowly into stride, never a factor
hung left, always towards rear
always towards rear
Nonrunner
Alan Swinbank looks to have found a winning opportunity here for Merlins Profit, with Mount Royale likely to go well again and neither Elms Schoolboy nor Glenviews Babalou out of it. The selection has a clear chance given that he starts from a mark of 49 here, though he was good enough to win a handicap off 57 at Musselburgh last summer. With that in mind, providing he can run to anything like that form he should be good enough to beat this poor lot. Mount Royale is nothing if not consistent, but usualyl finds one or two too good as his lack of finishing speed is exposed. He will surely be thereabouts but is 2lb higher than when last winning and is opposed. Elms Schoolboy is a c&d winner who is also 2lb higher than his latest win. Forget his last start at Southwell, for he will be better back here and may emerge as the most serious challenger. Of the others Glenviews Babalou will be better suited by the seven furlongs than six last time and may improve for that, but Merlins Profit is a relatively confident selection here.
Mount Royale (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden and hung right 2f out, soon every chance, not quicken near finish, 3rd of 9, hd behind dhtrs Penel (8-13) & Bahamian Bay (9-0) at Southwell 6f banded stk (7) fbs.
Merlins Profit 11-4jt-fav (8-11) Dwelt, towards rear, never dangerous, 6th of 7, 6l behind Redwood Rocks (9-3) at Carlisle 1m hcp (5) frm in Sept.
Glenviews Babalou (USA) 33-1 (9-2) Behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on, never reached leaders, 5th of 12, 3l behind Desert Light (9-2) at W'hampton 6f banded stk (7) pol in Mar.
King of Meze (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Always towards rear and outpaced, 15th of 17, 25l behind Piccolo Prince (8-6) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-65 (6) hvy.
Elms Schoolboy 7-1 (9-3) Dwelt, switched right soon after start, raced wide, soon pushed along in mid-division, ridden 3f out, kept on, never dangerous, 5th of 12, 7l behind Legal Lover (8-4) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs.
Pepper Road 16-1 (9-1) Towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 6th of 13, 11l behind Bold Phoenix (9-2) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs.
Vizulize 20-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 10l behind Joe Jo Star (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f banded stk (7) pol in Feb.
Pending (IRE) 9-1 (8-5) Held up, headway 6f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Distant Country (8-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f app clm (6) pol.
