slowly into stride, headway on outside 5f out, led 2f out, headed and carried left entering final furlong, stayed on same pace
prominent, ridden 3f out, lost place over 2f out
soon led, headed 2f out, edged left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, soon lost place and outpaced, plugged on final furlong, went 4th close home
led early, chased leaders, effort over 1f out, led and edged left entering final furlong, kept on well
chased leaders, lost place over 4f out, effort 2f out, switched left over 1f out, soon not clear run, kept on, went 3rd well inside final furlong
slowly into stride, held up, edged right over 2f out, soon weakened
Xian Express won a poor seller at Chelmsford before struggling back in a handicap last week but will do well to get the better of LILI WEN FACH on these terms. The latter wasn’t at her best at Southwell when last in action but races on this surface for the first time and gets a change of headgear. David Evan’s grey filly is also weighted to beat the remainder though Egotistic will be sharper for a recent comeback and Rocking My Boat is the least exposed as he drops down in trip.
Xian Express (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Awkwardly away, held up, headway far side of group over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 5 1/2l behind Lyricist Voice (9-1) at Newcastle 1m hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Rocking My Boat (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, weakened 2f out, 8th of 12, 15 1/4l behind The Perfect Crown (9-5) at Chelmsford City 7f stks (5) pol in Nov.
Knockacurra (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, never on terms, last of 9, 5l behind Passing Nod (9-6) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Castashadow 12-1 (9-1) Dwelt close up in rear, pushed along halfway, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 5th of 7, 3 3/4l behind Navajo Dawn (9-11) at Southwell 5f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Egotistic 14-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, switched left over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 7 3/4l behind Malmesbury Abbey (8-11) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Lili Wen Fach (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) A little slow into stride, soon outpaced and always in rear, last of 8, 7 3/4l behind Lilkian (9-5) at Southwell 5f (5) pol in Nov.
South Light (IRE) 40-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, driven over 2f out, ridden and headway inside final furlong, kept on, never nearer, 7th of 14, 4 3/4l behind Lezardrieux (9-6) at Newcastle 5f (6) pol in Oct.
