tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed narrowly inside final furlong, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
in touch, headway 2f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, ran on
dwelt held up, ridden over 2f out, not trouble leaders
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
in rear, ran on final furlong, not reach leaders
dwelt raced wide headway to track leaders 5f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
With most of these closely matched, STORMBOUND gets only a tentative vote. He finished just ahead of Lord Ofthe Shadows and Club House when third over track and trip three weeks ago but may well confirm superiority today. The latter had finished only a length behind Two In The Pink when Ralph Smith's mare scored here last month but Clement is unproven over this longer distance while Filosofo and Hierarch have not been at their best of late.
Lord Ofthe Shadows (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, under pressure over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Franco's Secret (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Filosofo (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Raced keenly, led, headed over 6f out, tracked leader, ridden 3f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 8, 12l behind The Gay Cavalier (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Stormbound (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, every chance from over 1f out, kept on same pace closing stages, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Franco's Secret (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Clement (IRE) 15-2 (8-13) Started slowly, keen and soon in mid-division, headway on inside 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Ocean Legend (9-5) at Kempton 7f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
Two In The Pink (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, led over 6f out, driven 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, lost place towards finish, 7th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Estibdaad (10-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f am hcp (0-70) (5) pol in Jan.
Hierarch (IRE) 28-1 (8-7) Towards rear, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Know Your Name (8-10) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) in Nov.
Club House (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on, never nearer, 6th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Franco's Secret (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.