started slowly, behind, steady headway halfway, chased leaders over 1f out, went 3rd and one pace inside final furlong, lost 3rd last strides
chased leaders, pushed along and went 2nd over 1f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
chased leaders, 2nd over 2f out, led well over 1f out, clear when ridden over 1f out, ran on strongly, eased close home
chased leader until pushed along over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
raced keenly, chased leaders, weakened 2f out
held up and behind, headway over 1f out, 5th and one pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, 4th and one pace inside final furlong, took 3rd last strides
led until pushed along and headed inside final 2f, ridden hung left and lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up towards rear, pushed along halfway, ridden and struggling 2f out, never on terms
FREE CODE faced a tough task raised 5lb and upped into Class 2 company here last time but had earlier won in this grade with War Department, Merdon Castle, Safe Voyage and Shamaheart behind. He’s worth another chance back at this level. Dutch Art Dealer is similar in that he too won here before raised in class last time while both War Department and Safe Voyage are better off with the selection on latest running and the latter landed a double here in January.
Dutch Art Dealer 4-1fav (9-3) Started very slowly, veered badly left and virtually refused to race, tailed off throughout, last of 13, 22l behind Intransigent (9-7) at Kempton 7f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Safe Voyage (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, never on terms, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Free Code (9-2) at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
War Department (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, stayed on into 4th inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 4th of 12, 2l behind Free Code (9-2) at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Free Code (IRE) 9-1 (8-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Suzi's Connoisseur (9-0) at Newcastle 7f hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Newstead Abbey 14-1 (9-7) Towards rear, effort over 1f out, never dangerous, 8th of 10, 10 1/2l behind Handsome Dude (9-7) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Shamaheart (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, behind, some headway towards far side inside final 2f, never on terms, weakened inside final furlong, last of 12, 6 3/4l behind Free Code (9-2) at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Bouclier (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Raced wide in touch, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 9th of 10, 16 3/4l behind Eljaddaaf (8-13) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Equally Fast 40-1 (9-7) Led, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Tripartite (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Merdon Castle (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Rear division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Handsome Dude (9-7) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
