pressed leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish
in rear, pushed along halfway, never nearer
held up, headway entering final furlong, stayed on, nearest finish
raced wide, close up, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace
held up, pushed along halfway, never near leaders
slowly away in rear, pushed along halfway, never nearer
in touch, ridden and headway entering final furlong, edged left and stayed on to go 2nd near finish
towards rear, ridden and headway inside final furlong, nearest finish
close up, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong
led and soon pressed, pushed along and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
Born To Finish could not be in better form but is only defeat in five came in this grade at Kempton and he’s 4lb higher. Marco Botti will be hoping cheekpieces can help Parkour get back in the winner’s enclosure, though he’s only won on Tapeta so far. Old Swiss Cross is still capable on his day but is only one of six previous course and distance winners in the line-up. Ballesteros is starting to look well handicapped but the opposite is probably true of Alkhor, who only beat SALVATORE FURY a short-head here in November and is now 7lb worse off. Keith Dalgleish’s runner will need luck in-running from stall two but should be thereabouts if the gaps appear.
Alkhor 7-2jfav (9-6) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 6l behind El Viento (9-1) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Oriental Relation (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 9 1/2l behind Dubai One (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Gold Flash 9-4fav (10-0) Raced wide in touch, headway approaching final furlong, soon switched right, ridden and ran on, not reach leaders, 4th of 10, nk behind Willwams (8-13) at Lingfield 7f stks (6) pol in Mar.
Born To Finish (IRE) 4-5fav (9-10) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair, good headway on inside chasing leaders over 1f out, not clear run and switched left inside final furlong, squeezed through to lead final 110 yards, comfortably, won at Lingfield 6f hcp (5) pol in Feb beating Bertie Blu Boy (9-6) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Varsovian 8-1 (9-1) Held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Saleh (8-8) at Kempton 7f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Swiss Cross 11-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, ridden and effort over 1f out, kept on, never threatened, 4th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Dutiful Son (8-13) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Mezmaar 7-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, last of 8, 4 3/4l behind Saleh (8-8) at Kempton 7f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Salvatore Fury (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) In touch in rear, pushed along over 1f out, not much room inside final furlong, stayed on close home, 6th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Make Music (9-5) at Lingfield 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Red Tycoon (IRE) 50-1 (8-13) Behind, headway 2f out, ridden entering final furlong, no extra, 6th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Bouclier (9-2) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Ballesteros 14-1 (9-2) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Foxy Forever (9-8) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Bertie Blu Boy 25-1 (9-4) Raced wide towards rear, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out, eased, last of 8, 15 1/4l behind Top of The Bank (9-2) at Lingfield 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Parkour (IRE) 7-2 (9-6) Held up in touch in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway and hung left over 1f out, no impression on winner and lost 2nd inside final 75 yards, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Aprovado (9-7) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
