tracked leaders on inner, closed to lead 1f out, hard driven final furlong, kept on until caught last strides
pulled hard, soon tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, soon lost place and behind
held up in touch, ridden to chase leading pair 2f out, hard driven and unable to quicken final furlong
held up in rear, closed on leaders 2f out, hard driven over 1f out, ran on gamely final furlong, got up last strides
led, headed 2f out, chased leader until weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, ridden to lead 2f out, headed 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
ran in snatches, in rear, hampered on rail over 4f out, taken to outer over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong
chased leaders on outer, ridden 3f out, hung left and beaten final 2f
The booking of Jamie Spencer for the reappearing Katies Tuitor takes the eye but lack of a recent run for the three-year-old is of concern and preference is for De La Rue, who gets the vote ahead of Direct Debit. The selection was good value for his win over the extended nine furlongs at Wolverhampton last time when beating a 78-rated rival by a length-and-a-quarter and looks fairly treated on a mark of 80 for his handicap debut. Jamie Osborne's Keel could probably do with some help from the handicapper, while Jebel Ali has gone up in the weights despite not winning and has been done few favours as a result. Fusili has held his form well but is another that seems to now be too high in the weights, while Ockums Razor is far from certain to stay this longer trip. Direct Debit is open to improvement and could be of interest but Michael Bell's colt would not appear to be particularly well treated on the evidence of his defeat of Dream Champion and Babcary here over a mile last time. By comparison, De La Rue does look on a fair mark and he is preferred.
Direct Debit (IRE) 9-4 (9-0) Prominent, chased leader 2f out, driven and sustained run final furlong to lead near finish, won at Lingfield 1m 3yo mdn aut (6) pol in Jan beating Dream Champion (9-0) by a shd, 12 ran.
Lucky Lucioni (IRE) 10-1 (8-7) Mid division, 9th approaching straight, kept on same pace under pressure from under 2f out, 6th of 16, 5l behind Border Cat (9-1) at Listowel 1m 2yo hcp gd in Sept.
De La Rue (USA) 9-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Jan beating Billich (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Fusili (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, 4th of 8, 2l behind Prince Charlemagne (8-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Ockums Razor (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out, last of 8, 17l behind Ludovico (8-12) at Southwell 7f 3yo hcp (4) fbs.
Katies Tuitor 17-2 (9-0) Made virtually all, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn aut (5) pol in Dec beating First Slip (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Keel (IRE) 7-1 (8-11) Held up, ridden 4f out, headway over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Casablanca Minx (7-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Jebel Ali (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Prince Charlemagne (8-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Feb.
