held up mid-division, ridden 5f out, weakened over 3f out
close up, lost place 5f out
keen, held up in touch, headway 3f out, soon ridden, driven, stayed on to lead towards finish
led, headed 6f out, ridden to lead again over 1f out, headed towards finish
keen, held up in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, not clear run and switched right over 1f out, kept on to take 4th inside final furlong
slowly away, outpaced
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, weakened 4f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, effort and every chance inside final furlong, kept on
Prince Des Neiges gets the vote over Rowan Lodge, Press Express and Faversham in a poor contest. Prince Des Neiges has at least been going the right way of late, having finished runner-up in similar company at Bath 27-days ago when badly hampered by the eventual winner. That was his best form since coming over from France where he was successful in claiming grade, admittedly with more cut in the ground than he will encounter today. However, the opposition is that moderate that it will probably not matter that much. Rowan Lodge appears to be the main danger as he is dropped in grade after finishing fifth in a grade four handicap at Southwell, and did win a claimer for connections at Yarmouth last October. Press Express has come down the weights this year and it is no surprise to see him now dropped to this grade. He could make his presence felt, but recent efforts hardly inspire confidence, while Faversham has not progresses at all since making a winning debut on softer going over the course-and-distance in April of last year. All in all, bets should be kept to the minimum, with Prince Des Neiges our idea of the winner.
Digger Boy 40-1 (9-11) Ridden over 4f out, always behind, 10th of 12, 28l behind Lemonette (9-6) at W'hampton 1m 4f mdn stk (5) pol in Mar.
Faversham 14-1 (8-9) In touch, driven on inside 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Royal Premier (8-10) at Goodwood 1m 3f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Fixateur 12-1 (9-10) In touch, pushed along over 4f out, soon beaten, 7th of 9, 34l behind Rocknest Island (8-1) at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Press Express (IRE) 9-4fav (8-10) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, driven and one pace final furlong, 6th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Malinsa Blue (8-4) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Prince Des Neiges (FR) 9-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, every chance when badly hampered over 1f out, rallied to take 2nd final stride, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Mayireneyrbel (8-3) at Bath 1m 2f sll (6) frm.
Rowan Lodge (IRE) 7-1 (8-6) Tracked winner, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 14l behind Luckylover (9-1) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-80 (4) fbs.
Viable 20-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, prominent, chased leaders 6f out, ridden 2f out and not quicken, weakened quickly final furlong, 9th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Charmatic (9-4) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Apr.
Shaika 11-1 (8-12) Held up, headway 5f out, ridden and weakened 2f out, 8th of 10, 14l behind Artzola (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f banded stk (7) pol in Dec.
