held up towards rear, ridden and headway 2f out, went 3rd briefly 1f out, soon weakened
keen, in touch, took closer order 4f out, chased leader well over 3f out until over 1f out, ridden and soon weakened
set steady pace, quickened over 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed close home
towards rear, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in last place, ridden over 1f out, ran on to take 3rd close home, too much to do
mid-division, ridden to go 4th 2f out, kept on same pace
tracked leader to well over 3f out, ridden and soon weakened
pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, driven inside final furlong, stayed on to lead close home
ROUGH SKETCH can defy a penalty to land this, with the main threats to his success likely to come from Sir Liam and Stoop To Conquer. Sir Mark Prescott's gelding won last time out in what was his first run for a year, and he's entitled to improve further for that. This is a slight step down in trip, but he looks the sort to run all day. He's the least exposed, but there doesn't look too much to beat in this, and despite the six pounds penalty, he's well in at the weights. Sir Liam is starting to show the sort of ability and promise that was hoped for a couple of years ago. A win and a second in his last couple of outings here have shown he's becoming more consistent. Stoop To Conquer has won off a much higher mark than he runs off now, but not for a while and may need the run as this is his first outing since September. With more improvement to come though, we favour the claims of Rough Sketch.
Lapina (IRE) 12-1 (8-6) Held up, brief effort 2f out, plugged on, 6th of 9, 4l behind Transvestite (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Stoop To Conquer 13-2 (10-0) Held up mid-division, headway 6f out, ridden and chased leaders over 3f out, kept on one pace final 2f, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Rutba (8-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-65 (6) sft in Sept.
Zalkani (IRE) 15-2 (8-12) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 4th of 14, 6l behind Bell Island (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Feb.
Generous Lad (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (9-7) In touch, pushed along 3f out, no impression final 2f, one pace, 7th of 12, 5l behind Little Carmela (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Sir Liam (USA) 4-1 (8-6) Held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Wyeth (8-13) at Lingfield 2m app hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Rough Sketch (USA) 7-1 (8-9) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on, won at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb beating Generous Star (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Spiritonthemount (USA) 25-1 (8-12) In touch, lost place over 5f out, last of 11, 30l behind Dishdasha (8-11) at Great Leighs 1m 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Shanafarahan (IRE) 50-1 (8-7) Raced keenly towards rear, headway to lead over 6f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 7l behind Dishdasha (8-11) at Great Leighs 1m 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
