held up, towards rear, headway on outer over 2f out, ridden approaching final furlong, kept on to take 3rd towards finish
made all, ridden 2f out, held on well towards finish, driven out
held up and keen, effort when not much room over 2f out, no extra final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked winner, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up, mid-division, headway over 1f out to chase leaders, weakened well inside final furlong
held up, in rear and keen, ridden well over 2f out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and lost place over 2f out
steadied start, held up, towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden entering final furlong, kept on towards finish, always held
There are very few that can be totally ruled out here, but our token vote goes to ALSADAA ahead of Bugsy's Boy and Sweetheart. Laura Mongan's gelding returned from a break to win a course and distance handicap in decisive fashion last time. This is more competitive, a 7lb rise in the weights demands more and he'll probably not be gifted a soft lead, but the manner of success was still impressive enough for us to select him once more. Like a couple of these Bugsy's Boy has been plying his trade at a reasonable level over hurdles of late. He's up 3lbs since last seen on the flat on account of a decent second that day, but this trip is well within his compass and he's one of a few with chances. Sweetheart won a Grade Two hurdle at Ascot in January and on that form she'd look well up to defying a mark of 77, so although her flat exploits haven't been nearly as impressive it may be that she's still improving and the booking of Neil Callan suggests a bold show is expected from this strong type. Right Stuff has fallen in two of his last three starts over timber so this first flat run in nearly six months might be a confidence boosting mission although the market will tell us more. Satwa Gold has to prove he stays this far and the colt's last three wins have all come in claiming and selling company so this demands much more, whilst Alnwick goes well here but hides less from the handicapper than some of these might. Rose Row won impressively back in September but has crept up the ratings in defeat since and this tougher contest can go to Alsadaa.
Right Stuff (FR) 11-2 (9-6) Held up towards rear, not clear run over 3f out, soon driven and headway, chased winner inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Oasis Knight (8-7) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Alsadaa (USA) 10-1 (9-5) Raced just off inside rail, made all, soon clear, kept on strongly final 2f, ridden out final furlong, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan beating L'homme De Nuit (8-11) by 8l, 6 ran.
Rose Row 8-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, ridden and headway on inside over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 10, 6l behind Dayia (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Sweetheart 16-1 (8-6) Pulled hard in mid-division, effort over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 32, 23l behind Darley Sun (8-6) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Alnwick 33-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, led 4f out, ridden over 2f out, headed in side final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 15, 2 1/4l behind Aaim To Prosper (9-8) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Oct.
Dreamwalk (IRE) 9-4fav (9-4) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 7, 5l behind Sheshali (10-0) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
American Spin 8-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway on inside 2f out, staying on when badly hampered on rail over 1f out, not recover, 7th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Isabelonabicycle (9-1) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jul.
Bugsy's Boy 11-1 (9-3) Held up in last pair, headway on outside over 2f out, strong challenge inside final furlong, held when struck on head by winner's whip towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Arab League (8-11) at Newbury 2m app hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Satwa Gold (USA) 3-1 (9-6) In touch, ridden over 2f out, effort 1f out stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Quinsman (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcap (5) pol.
