led, headed after 1f and remained in touch, regained lead 3f out, driven over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra close home
held up behind leaders, driven over 2f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, kept on
held up in rear, headway over 3f out, driven and one pace final furlong
held up, reminders over 6f out, driven when weakening over 2f out
took keen hold behind leaders, pushed along over 7f out, weakened over 4f out, tailed off
in touch, led after 1f, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out
Perhaps one man more disappointed than most to see Southwell off the calendar for the past half year would be Hughie Morrison, whose Kylkenny has enjoyed 15 course wins here, nine of which have bene over this trip, and he can celebrate the return of the track with another win, while Drizzi and Imminent Victory are respected. Admittedly well into the veteran stage of his career, Kylkenny still produces a decent level of form in the context of this race, and he will have been nicely freshened up by a six week break. Clearly he loves this place and he also races here from a mark 3lb lower than his last course win in February, so we will take our chances. Imminent Victory won a Kempton maiden over this trip last time and being eight years the junior of the selection he is clearly open to more improvement. He is untried on this surface, however, and the race he won at Sunbury was a pretty poor affair, so we are prepared to field against him. Drizzi is 1lb below his last win and is another track debutante. He will see out every yard here and is respected, but the big danger to the selection looks to be Marsam. Eddie Ahern is booked for the grey who was last seen disposing of a nine runner field over hurdles at Plumpton. Admittedly his recent flat form has been ordinary, but with confidence restored we may see a different animal today. Even so, Kylkenny is bombproof at this track and is taken to show that age is no barrier to success.
Marsam (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Started slowly, always in rear and never a factor, last of 13, 18l behind Evident Pride (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Kylkenny 11-1 (9-7) Held up, ridden along and headway over 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Zelos (10-5) at Nottingham 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (6) gf in Oct.
Drizzi (IRE) 4-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway 3f out, chased winner 2f out, closed and every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 13, nk behind Salute (9-9) at W'hampton 1m 6f clm (6) pol.
Pocket Too 4-1 (9-9) Ran in snatches, in touch, driven and effort 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 4l behind Up In Arms (9-1) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Imminent Victory 6-1 (9-9) Made most, pushed along 4f out, driven and strongly pressed 2f out and inside final furlong, driven to assert final 50 yards, won at Kempton 1m 4f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Nov beating Franky'n'jonny (9-4) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Bulberry Hill 33-1 (8-7) Pulled hard, headway over 8f out, weakened 2f out, 10th of 12, 13l behind Moment of Clarity (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
