held up in 5th, outpaced over 2f out, plugged on again inside final furlong, not pace to get involved
held up towards rear, headway on inside, chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, 5th and one pace inside final furlong
took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd over 8f out until 7f out, chased leaders, hung right and not quicken 2f out, switched left over 1f out, went 2nd again towards finish and closed, not reach winner
slowly into stride, last pair, quick move on outside chasing leaders over 8f out, 2nd 7f out until over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon not quicken, stayed on inside final furlong
started very slowly, reluctant in rear, never a factor
led after 1f and set steady pace, ridden and tried to quicken 2f out, headed entering final furlong, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader after 1f until over 8f out, tracked leaders on inside, 2nd again inside final 3f, ridden to lead entering final furlong, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish
took keen hold, held up in 7th and wide, pushed along and unable to quicken over 2f out, soon beaten
took keen hold, held up in 6th, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
took very keen hold, led 1f, soon steadied tracking leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, headway between horses over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on
Stand Guard bids to increase his record number of wins on the all-weather having beaten Ali Bin Nayef and Tasty Ginger over track and trip last time. But win number 29 may prove harder to come by with ON FIRE looking set to make a bold bid after going close in a higher grade handicap here last month. James Bethell’s charge is preferred to Rail Dancer, who won over 1m3f here earlier and was placed off today’s mark on his latest start while Munsarim also scored at the track when last in action in October.
Stand Guard 8-1 (9-8) Held up in touch in mid-division on inside, smooth headway on outside tracking leaders over 2f out, 2nd 2f out, soon led, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on gamely, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan beating Ali Bin Nayef (9-3) by 2l, 10 ran.
Jackblack 12-1 (9-4) Off the pace and always towards rear, never a factor, 8th of 10, 7 3/4l behind East Coast Lady (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
On Fire 16-1 (8-7) Held up, headway and edged right from over 1f out, went 2nd and ran on inside final furlong, unable to trouble winner, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Choral Clan (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Tasty Ginger (IRE) 5-1 (8-13) In rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd place near finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Bracken Brae (10-0) at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Munsarim (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway from 2f out, led inside final 100 yards, held on well, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Oct beating Top Pocket (9-3) by hd, 14 ran.
Chandon Elysees 4-1 (9-3) Prominent 2f, in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 4l behind Karam Albaari (9-11) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Iona Island 20-1 (9-1) Behind, outpaced over 2f out, never reached leaders, 8th of 11, 6 1/2l behind Bamako Du Chatelet (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Rail Dancer 2-1fav (9-5) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and and lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Shining Romeo (9-10) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Ali Bin Nayef 7-2 (9-3) Mid-division, switched left to outside 2f out, soon driven chasing leaders, went 2nd entering final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Stand Guard (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Tractive Effort 25-1 (8-10) Soon tracking leader, led over 3f out, ridden hung left and headed inside final 2f, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 13, 9 1/2l behind Lobster Cocktail (9-5) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
