held up behind, struggling approaching 3 out, never on terms
close up on inside, headway to lead after 3 out, driven clear between last 2, ridden and edged right flat, kept on
chased leaders to 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up after next
tracked leader, led after 3rd, headed after 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd and held when blundered and unseated rider next
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
behind, ridden after 3 out, left 4th next, never on terms
raced wide, led to after 3rd, remained in touch, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, left 3rd next, no impression on 1st 2
towards rear, pushed along after 3rd, behind from 3 out
always towards rear
A competitive finale with Polar Gunner, Vulcan Lane, Charlie Tango and Amadeus short-listed with the vote going to the last named. Amadeus has already landed himself in the winner's enclosure this term when scoring at Fakenham back in November. Since then he has managed to hold onto his form without adding to that. His last run earlier in the month was a little below par when sent off favourite but if forgiven that performance his form reads well, and with the yard having winners at present he is worth siding with once more. Polar Gunner bids for a hat-trick of wins after scoring at Wetherby on both his last two starts. Both wins were on rain softened ground so that will once again be in his favour but the fact that he has risen 15-pounds for his last win means he has a lot more on his plate this time around and is vulnerable to horses carrying lighter weights. Along with the selection, Vulcan Lane is one such horse who has no weight to carry and has bits of form to his name so is worth noting in the betting market, as is Charlie Tango who won over course-and-distance in November but has since struggled in similar company. So, for the winner we return to Amadeus.
Polar Gunner 13-8fav (10-9) Tracked leader, led 5th, clear approaching last, easily, won at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan beating Gospel Song (11-0) by 14l, 11 ran.
Charlie Tango (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Led, hit 4th, headed next, soon ridden and weakened, 4th of 8, well behind Etoile Russe (9-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Merryvale Man 33-1 (11-2) Led, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 19, 6l behind Seymar Lad (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Baby Gee 40-1 (11-7) Held up, weakened from 5th, 6th of 11, 26l behind Polar Gunner (10-9) at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
Countrywide Sun 10-1 (9-9) In touch, weakened and tailed off from 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Euro American (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Amadeus (AUS) 5-2fav (10-8) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, one pace and no impression approaching last, 4th of 9, 20l behind Miss Pross (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Star Trooper (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Prominent, weakened after 4 out, 7th of 12, 37l behind Front Rank (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Vulcan Lane (NZ) 3-1 (10-3) Held up and jumped slowly, lost place from 7th, 6th of 7, 42l behind Log On Intersky (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
