held up in rear, headway after 4 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, outpaced after 4 out, weakened from next
held up in touch, hit 8th, headway to lead before 3 out, soon clear, eased near finish, comfortably
in touch, joined leader 3rd, soon led, headed when hit 3 out, weakened next
in touch, lost place 3rd, reminders after 6th, weakened after 4 out
led, headed after 3rd, with leader, driven and outpaced 3 out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd before last, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
A slow slog in the mud might suit the four-year-old Harrison's Star, however a safer bet looks to be the more consistent LOCKSTOWN who is nominated ahead of Zaffarella. The selection comes here on the back of a second successive runner-up placing, when he was held behind Capybara. That run was at Catterick where he was outpaced at a key point of the race and this track may be more suitable. Zafarella disappointed slightly last time, having finally got off the mark at this track the time before. A return to the scene of the crime could bring abut some more improvement but let's not forget that she was frustrating to follow previously. Soul Angel steps up in trip and is a course winner, whilst Classic Act and Flemross both return from breaks having not excelled themselves when last seen. A tricky handicap, but Lockstown deserves to get his head in front.
Flemross (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway to 6th 4 out, 4th before straight, ridden in 6th and no extra 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 18, 38l behind Hotterthanjuly (11-3) at Navan 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-116 sft in Nov.
Classic Act 25-1 (11-3) In touch to 6th, soon beaten, 7th of 11, well behind Prince De Beauchene (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Lockstown 7-2fav (11-6) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced 8th, stayed on from 2 out, chased winner from last, 2nd of 17, 3l behind Capybara (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.
Soul Angel 14-1 (10-13) Prominent until ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 18, 42l behind Description (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Harrison's Star 7-2 (10-7) Chased leaders, reminders and lost place after 3rd, soon outpaced, stayed on under pressure to go modest 3rd, last, no impression, 3rd of 11, 28l behind Elk Trail (10-12) at Catterick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Seeking Straight (IRE) 6-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, weakened 3 out, 8th of 14, 32l behind Kempski (11-5) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
Zaffarella (IRE) 6-4fav (11-4) Held up, ridden and some headway approaching 3 out, no impression, 6th of 11, 17l behind Oscar Trial (10-3) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
