held up in touch, driven and effort 3f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, keen hold, headway 3f out, weakened 1f out
always prominent, led well over 1f out, soon hard ridden, kept on well under pressure
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace
always mid-division
held up in touch, effort 3f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, switched right and headway well over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
held up towards rear, some late headway, never dangerous
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, never on terms
held up in touch, headway over 3f out, hard ridden and stayed on well under pressure
held up mid-division, driven and headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon no impression
held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway when bumped over 2f out, never dangerous
held up in rear, some late headway, never nearer
always behind
Another big field for this handicap where an inside draw should help and Suits Me looks the one to beat, while Painted Sky may present the biggest danger. The selection acts well with cut and comes here seeking a hat-trick after a c&d success in October followed up at Ayr. A 9lb rise for those to wins looks fair enough and he does go well fresh so with a decent inside pitch he can score. Painted Sky is another with a decent draw and 5lb higher than his latest race on the level, a Wolverhampton win. He remains in good nick though with a Huntingdon hurdles win last week and he should be thereabouts. Lunar Promise has been trained for this since a Lingfield win in January, for which he went up 6lb, though he has to prove he handles the ground. Intersky Charm is stepped up now and that can elicit some improvement. He handles Southwell's slowish fibresand so that may help him here, but in reality he has to prove that he too handles slower ground on turf. The groudn is probably against Northern Sky and Basra won't find things easy in that regard, while Cleaver will be very much at home and may prove a big danger from this mark. An intriguing contest then, and Suits Me gets the nod.
Kings Quay 12-1 (8-7) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 5th of 10, 13l behind Millville (9-12) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Feb.
Suits Me 5-2 (9-4) Led, ridden over 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, won at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Nov beating Hawkit (8-9) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Northern Spy (USA) 11-4 (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Mataram (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Granston (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 9l behind Denbera Dancer (8-5) at Southwell 1m hcap (4) fbs in Feb.
Basra (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) In rear, ran on towards finish, never nearer, 6th of 12, 3l behind Dansant (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stk (1) pol in Feb.
Cruise Director 20-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and edged right 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 15, 4l behind Tcherina (8-2) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Intersky Charm (USA) 9-2 (8-12) Held up behind leaders, effort when outpaced over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Denbera Dancer (8-5) at Southwell 1m hcap (4) fbs in Feb.
First Buddy 16-1 (8-4) Led, headed over 3f out, soon under pressure and weakened, 8th of 9, 16l behind Habalwatan (8-10) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Lucayan Dancer 28-1 (9-2) Held up, raced stand side entering straight, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace, 9th of 18, 12l behind Jewelled Dagger (8-9) at York 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Cleaver 7-2fav (8-12) Held up behind, ridden over 2f out, never able to challenge, 9th of 11, 21l behind Spanish Hidalgo (9-3) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) hvy in Jul.
Quince (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Started very slowly, always behind, last of 13, 13l behind Night Hour (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Oct.
Painted Sky 50-1 (9-0) In rear when slightly hampered soon after start, headway on outside over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out to lead well inside final furlong, won at W'hampton 7f hcap (5) pol in Dec beating Teasing (9-4) by a hd, 11 ran.
Davenport (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Towards rear, headway on outer over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 15, 1/2l behind Sforzando (8-11) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Nov.
Prince Samos (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Held up, ridden and headway 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on well, just held, 2nd of 15, hd behind Suits Me (9-13) at Doncaster 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Lunar Promise (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Held up, headway to lead just over 3f out, hard pressed final furlong, ran on well, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan '07 beating Samarinda (8-13) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Krugerrand (USA) 25-1 (9-2) Held up and keen, headway over 1f out and weaved way through, no further impression final furlong, 7th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Prime Number (8-7) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Feb.
Old Romney 33-1 (9-0) Always behind, 14th of 15, 11l behind Sforzando (8-11) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Nov.
Lobengula (IRE) 6-4fav (9-5) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened quickly, last of 6, 15l behind Hoh Wotanite (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Danski 4-1 (9-6) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 12, 6l behind Councellor (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Pretty Demanding (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Rear of mid-division, ridden and no impression from 3f out, 15th of 18, 20l behind Rockys Choice (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp 60-92 gf in Oct.
