took keen hold in mid-division, smooth headway approaching 3 out, every chance until ridden and weakened between last 2
led in start, raced wide, led until narrowly headed after 3rd, chased leaders until ridden and weakened 3 out
in rear, ridden and struggling before 3 out, tailed off
chased leader, slight lead after 3rd, narrowly headed 3 out, stayed front rank and challenging, disputing lead and every chance flat, not quicken close home
raced wide towards rear, slow and in rear 5th, soon lost touch tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, every chance 3 out, ridden and weakened between last 2
in touch, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, led 3 out, wide and narrowly headed 2 out, rallied flat to lead again close home
held up towards rear, ridden and headway before 3 out, took narrow lead on inside 2 out, disputing lead flat, headed and not quicken close home
WATERLOO CORNER, who won this a year ago from just 2lb lower, can complete the double for Ray Craggs. The nine-year-old is peaking at the right time judging on his fine second to Fujin Dancer at Catterick and further drying of the ground would be a bonus. King's Counsel, who was over four lengths behind the selection at Catterick, has run well at Doncaster subsequently and is another who will enjoy the conditions but Shifting Gold is very much a specialist on Fibresand at Southwell nowadays and won there on New Year's Day when Agglestone Rock was well beaten. The latter is quite well handicapped over timber though his last three victories have been over fences.
Agglestone Rock 4-1fav (11-10) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 5th of 17, 9l behind The Magic Bishop (10-4) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Bureaucrat 14-1 (11-7) In touch on outer, pushed along before 5th, weakened 4 out, 7th of 8, well behind Cool Operator (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Feb.
Classic Contours (USA) 18-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division and keen, mistake 4 out, soon weakened and tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Moon Indigo (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
King's Counsel (IRE) 11-4 (11-6) Led, headed 3 out, led again narrowly last, headed final 75 yards, no extra, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Hypnotic Gaze (11-4) at Doncaster 2m clm hdl (5) gd.
Dream Risk (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Led, pushed along and headed before 3 out, soon weakened, last of 9, 39l behind Blue Nymph (11-5) at Doncaster 2m mares hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Takaatuf (IRE) 22-1 (11-3) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway 3 out, weakened before next, 9th of 14, 21l behind Fujin Dancer (10-9) at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Barron Watlass (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Raced wide, keen in rear, ridden and hit 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 22l behind Won More Night (10-4) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Shifting Gold (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Chased leaders and keen, headway approaching 6th, led after 3 out, soon headed, weakened from 2 out, 8th of 17, 31l behind San Deng (10-1) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Jan.
Waterloo Corner 9-1 (10-8) Raced wide, chased leaders, closed after 3rd, went 2nd after 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Fujin Dancer (10-9) at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
