keen mid-division, ridden over 3f out, not trouble leaders
tracked leader, ridden and weakened 3f out
in rear, ridden 3f out, keeping on when switched right 1f out, never near leaders
raced wide close up, ridden and every chance 2f out, stayed on
held up in touch, ridden and hung left 2f out, weakened 1f out
led, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on one pace
held up in touch, ridden and every chance 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, no extra final furlong
went right start, held up well off the pace, good headway on outer from over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on
in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 1f out
raced wide in touch, weakened over 3f out
in touch, ridden and weakened 3f out
always in rear
Christine Dunnett's recent Southwell winner Scruffy Skip, the Ian Williams-trained Short Cut and Eric Wheeler's Batchworth Blaise were all winners last time and have to be respected off their new marks but all three face more difficult tasks today and a better bet may be EAGER TO BOW, who gets the vote to gain a deserved success. The selection has been placed in all three starts on the Polytrack this term off the same mark that he races off today so he looks well worth chancing back on turf on ground conditions that should suit. Gary Moore's Prince Valentine has rather harshly gone up another 1lb since his most recent start on the Polytrack and he looks booked for a place at best, while Talamahana ran better at Kempton last time but is not as good on turf. Namu made a pleasing return at Wolverhampton earlier this month and would have every chance if able to build on that effort but preference is for Eager To Bow, who can resume winning ways and gain a deserved success.
Goodbye Cash (IRE) 6-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed narrowly over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Lady Kent (9-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Feb.
Trading Nation (USA) 16-1 (8-11) Took keen hold, in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out, last of 8, 7l behind Sapphire Prince (8-4) at Lingfield 7f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
State General (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Led 2f, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 17, 33l behind Blue Spinnaker (10-2) at Doncaster 1m 2f am hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) gs in Mar.
Scruffy Skip (IRE) 7-2 (8-11) Always prominent, led over 1f out, ran on well, easily, won at Southwell 7f hcp (0-55) (6) fbs beating Bajan Pride (9-1) by 4l, 11 ran.
Jonnie Skull (IRE) 11-4fav (8-10) Held up towards rear, ridden halfway, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 12l behind Aviso (9-4) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-65 (6) sft.
Sultans Way (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Went right start, soon in touch on outer, effort 2f out, driven to challenge and every chance just inside final 2f, weakened and eased final furlong, 8th of 15, 7l behind Ocean Countess (8-12) at Brighton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Sep.
Sermons Mount (USA) 5-1fav (9-3) Pulled hard, tracked leader, ridden 2f out, driven and weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 14, 4l behind Lopinot (9-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Namu 16-1 (8-11) Towards rear, headway on outer over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd well inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Ride A White Swan (8-10) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (0-55) (6) pol.
Short Cut 7-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden 1f out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Kempton 6f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Feb beating Spoof Master (9-4) by nk, 10 ran.
Eager To Bow (IRE) 7-2fav (8-10) Held up in touch, effort to lead briefly inside final furlong, not quicken near finish, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Batchworth Blaise (8-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Top Flight Splash 7-2fav (8-6) With leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed, weakened final furlong, 9th of 12, 6l behind Muktasb (8-12) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar.
Prince Valentine 12-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, held up in touch, chased leaders over 2f out, soon hard ridden, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 3l behind Athboy Auction (8-1) at Lingfield 1m app hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Mar.
Louie's Lad 66-1 (7-12) In rear, outpaced from halfway, last of 10, 10l behind Mythical Blue (9-1) at Goodwood 5f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Sep.
Talamahana 20-1 (8-2) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed, driven inside final furlong, just held on to 2nd, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Star Strider (9-0) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Jeannie (IRE) 50-1 (8-4) Soon led, headed 7f out, tracked leader until weakened 2f out, 10th of 13, 8l behind Well Of Echoes (8-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar.
Batchworth Blaise 33-1 (8-3) Slowly into stride, raced in final pair, wide into straight 2f out, headway approaching 1f out, edged left and led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol beating Count Ceprano (8-7) by nk, 12 ran.
