held up, pulled hard, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, not pace of leaders well inside final furlong
went slightly left start, chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in rear, switched right well over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, edged left and led close home
soon tracking leader, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden over 2f out, led inside final furlong, soon headed, held close home
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
not much room start, held up, headway 2f out, led well inside final furlong, headed close home
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, no extra when not much room inside final furlong
slowly into stride, always in rear
Plenty of these have decent claims including recent C&D third Powerful Pierre and Mataajir, who landed a hat-trick on the all-weather at the end of last year and may not have stopped improving. Drive Home scored over track and trip last time and should go well again despite the 5lb rise. He has the beating of Monadreen Dancer on that form, while Southwell winner Ace Master has yet to prove as good on the Polytrack, but Downhill Skier should figure. MUHANDIS is relatively lightly-raced and given he started life in handicaps off an 18lb higher mark last season, he gets the nod here after finishing a close-up fifth at Lingfield on his latest start.
Lucky Dan (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Started slowly, behind, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 7, 2 1/4l behind Night Trade (9-2) at Wolverhampton 6f app hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Powerful Pierre 40-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden over 2f out, effort 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd near finish, not reach leaders, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Needwood Ridge (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Muhandis (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden entering final furlong, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Aquarian Spirit (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Mataajir (USA) 5-2fav (9-4) Prominent, every chance 1f out, soon edged right, stayed on, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Valley Tiger (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Downhill Skier (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Always towards rear, never a factor, 11th of 12, 9l behind Lastkingofscotland (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f app hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Spin Again (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Led early, tracked leader until led halfway, soon joined, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 8l behind Fleetwoodsands (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Drive Home (USA) 13-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan beating Crocodile Bay (8-2) by 1l, 11 ran.
Ace Master 9-4fav (9-8) Led, ridden well over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind General Tufto (9-4) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jan.
Monadreen Dancer 9-2 (9-4) Keen tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, keeping on same pace when short of room near finish, 6th of 9, 2l behind Crocodile Bay (8-10) at Lingfield 7f app hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Field Finner 66-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden 3f out, hung left and stayed on inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 9, 7l behind Les Verguettes (9-7) at Wolverhampton 6f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Jan.
