chased leaders, lost place over 7f out, ridden on outside over 2f out, no impression
soon towards rear, pushed along 3f out, not much room inside 2f out, no impression
held up in mid-division, effort 3f out, no impression over 1f out
slowly into stride, behind, headway over 1f out, never dangerous
chased leader, led over 2f out, clear entering final furlong, ran on well, easily
mid-division, headway 2f out, went 4th inside final furlong, kept on, never able to get on terms
chased leaders, raced keenly, 3rd 2f out, no impression on winner, kept on
chased leaders on inside, went 2nd and ridden 2f out, kept on, no impression on winner
led until over 2f out, soon weakened
broke well, chased leaders, lost place over 6f out, headway 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f
NonRunner
NonRunner
Alpha Cru won three times last year and will be winning again before long off his current mark. But CLIFFCAKE (NAP) scored over course and distance last summer before notching-up a hat-trick over the winter. There looks more to come back on this surface after winning at Southwell last time and Roy Bowring’s charge gets the vote. Imperial Command has been in good form at Newcastle while Grangeclare View is preferred to Majestic Tejaan and Nankeen of the remainder.
Nankeen 4-1 (9-5) Pressed leader, led 7f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 5 1/4l behind Lammas (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Alpha Cru (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Held up in touch, went to race alone on outside rail 6f out, chased leaders into home straight, stayed on inside final furlong, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 13, 3 1/4l behind Empirestateofmind (9-4) at Pontefract 1m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Urban War (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway on inside over 1f out, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Saleymm (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Sadiqaa (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Towards rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 6th of 13, 3 3/4l behind Dashing Dick (9-4) at Leicester 7f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Fast Medicine (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, held when hampered over 1f out, 7th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Sucellus (9-5) at Haydock 1m hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Professional Widow (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Awkward and slowly away, in rear, pushed along 3f out, never on terms, last of 7, 8 1/4l behind Bashkirova (9-7) at Newmarket 1m hcp fll (2) sft in Oct.
Grangeclare View (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Keen in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on, nearest finish, 4th of 10, 3 3/4l behind Dark Spec (9-5) at Leicester 1m hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Cliffcake (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Tracked leading trio, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 7f hcp (5) pol in Feb beating Custard The Dragon (9-7) by 2l, 10 ran.
Victorious Night (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 7th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Paxos (9-11) at Kempton 7f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Mccann The Man 4-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders on inside, slightly hampered and lost place 5f out, mid-division and no headway after, 7th of 10, 4 3/4l behind Newton Jack (9-7) at Windsor 1m hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Imperial Command (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Slow into stride, in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Eilean Dubh (8-9) at Newcastle 1m hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Majestic Tejaan (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Pressed leader over 1f, stayed handy, ridden over 2f out, led well inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 7, shd behind Zoom Zoom Babe (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp fll (5) pol in Feb.
