Verdict

Maharashtra missed out on a treble at the track last time but by less than a length and should go well again in this higher grade. But BY JOVE was also narrowly beaten when runner-up over course and distance for Mick Appleby’s local yard and he gets the vote given the winner has subsequently gone in again. Charlie Arthur scored over a longer trip here last month while both Straitouttacompton and Al Gaiya placed over 1m4f at the track recently.

Formwatch

Charlie Arthur (IRE) 7-1 (10-1) Soon chasing leader, pushed along over 2f out, 3rd and beaten inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Red Flyer (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan.

El Picador (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Led, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, weakened, 6th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Star Of St James (9-1) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Feb.

Richard R H B (IRE) 11-2 (9-9) Raced keenly, led 1f, tracked leader until over 7f out, soon off the pace in 3rd, dropped to 4th 2f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 6l behind Mummy's Boy (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Jan.

Straitouttacompton 8-1 (9-12) Tracked leader, pushed along and led 2f out, ridden and headed just inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Elhafei (9-7) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan.

Aria Rose 28-1 (9-12) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 26 1/4l behind Allowed (9-6) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Jan.

Libby Ami (IRE) 11-4fav (8-11) Tracked leaders, pushed along and unable to quicken 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Visibility (9-0) at Southwell 1m hcp (5) pol in Jan.

Maharashtra 2-1 (9-9) Keen held up, wide and headway approaching final 3f, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Batocchi (9-6) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Feb.

By Jove 9-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along to lead 2f out, ridden and hung left approaching final furlong, headed inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Allowed (9-6) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Jan.

Al Gaiya (FR) 12-1 (9-5) Close up, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Hooves Like Jagger (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.