close up and keen, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
behind and pushed along, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on entering final furlong, held near finish
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, one pace
held up behind, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
close up, led over 3f out, headed well over 1f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
led, headed over 3f out, soon ridden and one pace
in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
slowly into stride, pushed along behind, chasing leaders over 2f out, led well over 1f out, all out
behind, one pace from over 1f out
pushed along behind, never dangerous
always behind
JORDI ROPER is in fine form at present and can get back to winning ways now dropped in trip, while Nabeeda should therefore not be far away. The Stewart Parr-trained selection battled on well to score over course and distance from a 4lb lower mark a couple of starts ago and went close to following up over a mile last time, when just failing to hold on. Nabeeda was third in the race won by Jordi Roper and is now 4lb better off for a length-and-a-half deficit, so Mel Brittain's gelding is entitled to get go very close but might just have to give best once more. Cape Of Storms was a shade further behind that day but is also entitled to get closer now over a trip and track that suits, while Straight Face is better on the Polytrack. City For Conquest was a course and distance scorer in November, but he struggles to win from this sort of mark and is therefore taken on. Marvin Gardens is another recent winner, but the headgear didn't have the same effect last time and preference is for Jordi Roper.
Nabeeda 5-2 (8-8) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Jordi Roper (8-4) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
Jordi Roper (IRE) 11-10fav (8-9) Prominent, led over 4f out, hard driven and headed final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, shd behind Hurricane Coast (8-9) at Southwell 1m app hcp (6) fbs.
Cape of Storms 12-1 (8-6) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Jordi Roper (8-4) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
Mind Alert 13-2 (9-0) Held up mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, never dangerous, 9th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Street Power (9-0) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol.
Soba Jones 25-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 2f out, one paced from over 1f out, 6th of 7, 6l behind Don Pele (9-0) at Southwell 6f clm (6) fbs.
Cabopino (IRE) 6-1 (8-12) Led early, tracked leader, led over 2f out, kept on until headed just over 1f out, quickly lost 2nd, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Balata (9-3) at Kempton 7f mdn aut stk (5) pol in Dec.
Afton View (IRE) 9-2 (8-6) Very slowly into stride, chased leaders over 3f out, soon ridden and one pace, 5th of 10, 7l behind Hurricane Coast (8-9) at Southwell 1m app hcp (6) fbs.
Straight Face (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Disputed lead, weakened 3f out, last of 13, 27l behind Takitwo (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol.
Head To Head (IRE) 12-1 (8-3) Dwelt, soon chasing leaders, driven to challenge and every chance over 1f, edged left and kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Charlotte Grey (8-9) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs.
Berrymead 14-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, ridden along halfway, weakened over 1f, 10th of 11, 12l behind Charlotte Grey (8-9) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs.
Government (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) In touch, ridden along halfway, soon behind, last of 10, well behind Mambo Sun (9-4) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
George The Best (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up, not clear run, switched right just over 3f out, never dangerous, 8th of 11, 8l behind Hi Spec (9-0) at W'hampton 7f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Feb.
City For Conquest (IRE) 25-1 (8-2) Dwelt and hampered at start, always behind, 12th of 13, 12l behind Fyodor (9-9) at Southwell 5f clm (6) fbs in Dec.
Marvin Gardens 8-1 (8-11) Soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 14l behind Sarah's Art (9-6) at W'hampton 6f hcp (6) pol.
