Verdict

Five Two could be of interest tackling a handicap for the first time but Mick Channon's colt does not look to be particularly well treated nor is he likely to handle the testing conditions and preference is for Formal Decree, who gets the vote ahead of Petrichan. The last mentioned has been running well on the sand during the winter and hails from a yard that could hardly be in better form right now but an ability to handle the cut in the ground would have to be taken on trust. Mark Johnston's Makai seemed to handle similarly testing ground as a juvenile and has to be considered on his reappearance, while the booking of Darryll Holland for Hotham takes the eye. Nelsons Column drops back in distance and that is not certain to suit, while Hunting Haze is far from guaranteed to stay a mile and may do better back over shorter. The vote then goes to Formal Decree, who has form on a soft surface and comes here in good heart following a promising reappearance run at Ripon.

Formwatch

Five Two 11-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden, every chance over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 2nd of 10, 2l behind La Matanza (8-9) at Redcar 7f 3yo mdn aut (5) frm.

Formal Decree (GER) 8-1 (8-8) Held up towards rear, not much room and switched left 2f out, ran on final furlong, nearest at finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Flying Clarets (8-5) at Ripon 1m 3yo hcp (4) gd.

Hotham 8-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden to lead approaching final furong, headed and not pace of winner final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Trafalgar Bay (9-7) at Newbury 6f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.

Nelsons Column (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Prominent, driven along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 14l behind Balanced Budget (9-3) at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf.

Meantime (USA) 28-1 (8-6) Led, came stands side over 4f out, soon headed, weakened 3f out, 9th of 11, 47l behind Duty (8-9) at Yarmouth 1m 3f mdn stk (4) gf.

Zed Candy (FR) 40-1 (9-3) Ridden to soon lead, keen, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 16l behind Kyoto Summit (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo mdn aut (6) sft in Apr.

Petrichan (IRE) 9-1 (8-10) Led, headed over 1f out, edged left and one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Royal Amnesty (8-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Mar.

Makai 16-1 (9-4) In touch, driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 12, 10l behind Capistrano (8-13) at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) gd.

Hunting Haze 13-2 (8-9) Chased leaders, not much room after 2f, ridden 2f out, no impression final furlong, 6th of 14, 7l behind Pressure Putt (8-8) at Newcastle 7f 2yo mdn aut (6) gf in Oct.