in rear, kept on final furlong, no impression
held up mid-division, faded inside final furlong
led, headed over 5f out, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, led inside final furlong, kept on well
in touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never dangerous
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden 1f out, no extra
in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong until lost 2nd place towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, headway final furlong, kept on strongly, nearest at finish
led over 5f out, took keen hold, ridden and headed inside final furlong, weakened towards finish
Vale Of Iron is upped in class after scoring at Lingfield while Bogardus returned a losing favourite last time when attempting to repeat an earlier course win over 1m2f. Alshan Fajer just got the better of Whinging Willie over 1m4f three weeks ago and that pair are hard to separate while Shimba Hills and Mr Red Clubs were both placed on their latest starts, though neither has won over further than a mile so far. THE GINGER BERRY never figured in a higher grade here on his latest outing but went close at this level before that and Jon Scargill's charge may well bring a long losing run to an end in this.
Alshan Fajer 11-10fav (9-13) Close up, pushed along 3f out, ridden to lead entering final 2f, pressed inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 7, shd behind Whinging Willie (9-10) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Rightway (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Hampered start, behind, outpaced 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, not clear run and stayed on strongly inside final furlong, took 3rd post, nearest finish, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Dutch Golden Age (9-6) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Barren Brook 100-1 (11-2) Took keen hold early, held up in 4th until 6th, soon weakened and behind, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind The Grey Taylor (11-2) at Carlisle 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Shimba Hills 10-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed last 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Bayan Kasirga (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Whinging Willie (IRE) 11-4 (9-10) Tracked leaders, headway over 1f out, ridden to press leader inside final furlong, led post, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec beating Alshan Fajer (9-13) by ns, 7 ran.
Dragoon Guard (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Dwelt, held up, headway over 5f out, close up, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 9th of 10, 31l behind Swift Cedar (9-0) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Tea Gown (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Rider removed hood late dwelt, towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never a factor, 7th of 8, 10 1/4l behind Wavelet (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp fll (5) pol in Jan.
Mr Red Clubs (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Raced wide in touch, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1/2l behind Fern Owl (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Cosmic Halo 6-1 (9-13) Awkward start, behind, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Black Dave (10-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
The Ginger Berry 20-1 (8-12) Held up rear of mid-division, headway on outside over 3f out, chasing leaders when edged right approaching final 2f, ridden and weakened approaching final furlong, 12th of 14, 10 3/4l behind Sir Jack Layden (9-9) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Occult 9-4 (9-3) Held up in touch, effort over 1f out, never a threat, 5th of 7, 6 1/4l behind Thai Noon (8-12) at Lingfield 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Bogardus (IRE) 4-1fav (9-1) In touch, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 8th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Fern Owl (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Vale Of Iron (IRE) 2-1jfav (9-7) Keen held up in touch, headway on outer approaching 2f out, switched left over 1f out, effort entering final furlong, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec beating Silver Lining (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
