held up towards rear, headway over 6f out, pushed along on outer over 3f out, soon beaten, one pace
led, headed well over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leader early, lost place over 7f out
soon tracking leader, led well over 1f out, soon headed and one pace
slowly into stride, in rear, headway well over 1f out, kept on to chase winner inside final furlong, always held
tracked leaders, switched right over 1f out, soon led, stayed on well
PAKTOLOS runs this track well and is preferred here to Kames Park and Admirable Duque, whilst Palomar would be interesting if turning up. Formerly trained by Alan King, the selection comes here on the back of a disappointing effort at Lingfield. However his best all-weather form is at this track and he was a course and distance winner two starts back. His new mark of 90 looks high enough but with ideal conditions he can defy top-weight. Coeur De Lionne ran well when second to Dance The Star here last time out and able to race off the same mark he is considered, despite having stamina to prove. Southern Regent needs a market check but the yard have been using races like this for fitness for hurdlers like him, so a bigger threat would be Palomar. He is engaged at Musselburgh on Wednesday so is unlikely to take in both races, but if he did he would look fairly-treated off a mark of 78 now trying this longer trip. Kames Park and Admirable Duque clashed last time out at the track when the former came out on top. He is actually better off at the weights today (was out of the handicap last time out) and is taken to confirm those placings. However the feeling is that he will have to play second fiddle to the nominated Paktolos.
Paktolos (FR) 16-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, took closer order on outer over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 14l behind Buxted (8-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Coeur de Lionne (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Prominent, ridden to challenge over 1f out, not pace of winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Dance The Star (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Jan.
Southern Regent (IND) 25-1 (9-9) Led for 2f, tracked leaders, chased winner over 2f out, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Tropical Strait (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Oct '07.
Palomar (USA) 14-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, hard ridden over 4f out, soon beaten, 6th of 13, 5l behind Mister Green (8-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Kames Park (IRE) 7-2 (8-7) Held up, in rear, strong headway over 2f out, switched left to challenge over 1f out, soon every chance, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Admirable Duque (8-2) by nk, 6 ran.
Admirable Duque (IRE) 11-4fav (8-2) Held up, towards rear, headway over 2f out, hard ridden and every chance inside final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 6, nk behind Kames Park (8-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
