in touch, headway 5f out, chased leader over 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed close home
held up, headway 5f out, weakened over 2f out
towards rear, pushed along 3f out, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead close home
in rear, ridden 4f out, never nearer
held up, ridden and weakened 3f out
led and soon clear, reduced lead over 5f out, headed over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
in touch, headway and close up 5f out, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace
raced wide in touch, headway to track leaders 5f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
in rear, ridden over 4f out, never nearer
tracked clear leader, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leader until 6f out, soon lost place
in rear, headway 3f out, ridden to chase leading pair 2f out, kept on same pace
A leading amateur rider, Simon Walker partnered the inaugural winner of this in 2017 and was also on board NEVADA when the latter won at Nottingham in October. He’s taken to come out best given Rainbow Lad hasn’t raced since 2017 though he did win a couple of times for today’s rider Serena Brotherton in that year. Belabour’s best recent efforts came over longer trips and Something Brewing’s earlier success on the all-weather came over 2m but Onda District has finished closer of late and Sophie Smith takes 5lb off his back.
Nevada 7-2fav (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden along over 3f out, driven over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 13, 9 1/4l behind Handsome Bob (9-3) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Rainbow Lad (IRE) (10-12) 2nd of 6, 2l behind Aussie Lyrics (10-10) at Les Landes 1m 4f hcp gd in May.
Belabour 10-1 (10-12) Dwelt towards rear, headway 3f out, tracked leaders 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Up Ten Down Two (10-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Aug.
Something Brewing (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Held up in last pair on outside, headway 4 out, close up when mistake 2 out, soon outpaced, no impression with front pair before last, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 8, 16l behind Dimple (11-7) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Romantic (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along and no impression entering straight, no extra, weakened, last of 13, 14 1/4l behind Anfaass (9-7) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Nov.
Cross Swords 15-2 (9-3) Raced wide tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 12, 12 3/4l behind Destinys Rock (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Hugoigo 20-1 (8-8) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders, 8th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Grey Mist (9-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Emperor Sakhee 7-1 (8-7) Keen early towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no response, 9th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Visitant (9-12) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Elite Icon 33-1 (8-9) Held up in mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, progress over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Grey Mist (9-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Onda District (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) In touch on outside, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression from over 1f out, 8th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Highway Robber (8-10) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Hellavashock 28-1 (10-9) In touch, lost place before 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 7th of 12, 19 1/4l behind Green Zone (11-9) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Kilcoran 22-1 (8-3) Took keen hold, steady progress on outside 8f out, led over 5f out, headed well over 1f out, soon ridden and weakened, 8th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Visitant (9-12) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
