held up towards rear, pushed along and headway approaching final furlong, kept on
tracked winner until ridden entering final furlong, no extra
close up, switched right and headway over 1f out, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, stayed on
always in rear
in rear, pushed along halfway, ridden over 2f out, never on terms
close up, ridden and headway to chase clear winner entering final furlong when rider dropped reins, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, never a factor
made all, clear approaching final furlong, unchallenged
Sir Maximilian won over track and trip in September and is only 2lb higher while Juan Les Pins won over 6f at Kempton more recently and Split Down South scored over 6f here just last week for which he is penalised. Asad makes his handicap debut for new connections having been gelded and undergoing wind surgery since last in action but novice winner ALEXEJ is expected to improve now handicapping and the Gosden colt gets the vote to come out best.
Sir Maximilian (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, switched right last bend, ridden over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Count Of Amazonia (8-12) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Juan Les Pins 9-1 (9-5) Dwelt, raced keenly in mid-division, headway chasing leaders when not clear run and switched left over 1f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Astro Jakk (9-4) at Newcastle 6f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Alexej 4-6fav (9-9) Awkward leaving stalls, raced keenly in midfield, pushed after 2f out, 2nd when ridden inside final furlong, no match for impressive winner, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Silent Escape (8-11) at Wolverhampton 7f stks (5) pol in Nov.
Split Down South 10-3 (9-1) Held up, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (4) pol in Dec beating Invincible Larne (8-11) by 1l, 5 ran.
Brains (IRE) 40-1 (9-2) Slow into stride, pushed along in rear, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Fox Duty Free (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Revolutionise (IRE) 50-1 (9-1) Pulled hard, soon steadied towards rear, never on terms, last of 14, 9 1/2l behind Light And Dark (9-11) at Kempton 7f hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Tintoretto (IRE) 17-2 (9-5) Tracked leader after 1f, pushed along over 2f out, lost 2nd inside final 2f, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 14, 5 1/2l behind Almufti (9-10) at Kempton 1m hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Arctic Vega 9-4fav (9-9) In touch, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 19 3/4l behind Zezenia (8-11) at Haydock 7f stks (5) sft in Jul.
Asad (IRE) 10-11fav (9-2) Led over 7f out, pushed along and edged left 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, kept on same pace and lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 9 1/2l behind Eightsome Reel (9-9) at Ripon 1m 2f stks (4) gd in Apr.