held up in rear, headway between horses over 1f out, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, never able to challenge
made all, sent for home 3f out, soon clear, driven over 1f out, kept on strongly, unchallenged
slowly into stride, held up in last pair, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong
took keen hold tracking leaders, lost place 5f out, hung left 4f out, soon lost touch, tailed off and virtually pulled up over 2f out
slowly into stride, took keen hold tracking leaders, went 2nd after 2f, no chance with winner when ridden and lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, soon in touch, tracking leaders 5f out, driven along into well held 2nd when rider lost iron briefly over 1f out, weakened into 4th inside final furlong
took keen hold, tracked winner for 2f, chased leading pair until 5f out, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in last trio, weakened over 2f out
Civil War's two victories last spring included one over this track and trip and if the ground eases further it would be no shock to see him return with another victory. All Talk N No Do appeared to find 1m4f too far at Lingfield in December having won over two furlongs shorter there earlier so the jury is out as to whether he can last out here. Light Of Asia didn't go up much for landing a class 5 handicap at Haydock but hasn't been able to cope with the slight step-up in grade subsequently while Felix Fabulla was beaten in a moderate Southwell handicap last month though that was his first start since the summer of 2013. DRAGOON GUARD doesn't look an obvious choice but he has more potential than most of these and though not showing much in his two starts this season he's now likely to get the test of stamina he requires and with his rider able to claim 5lb he looks well enough treated to gain his first victory on Turf.
Civil War (IRE) 13-2 (9-9) Always towards rear, 9th of 12, 18l behind Nabatean (9-5) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
All Talk N No Do (IRE) 5-2 (9-5) Led 2f, prominent, ridden over 2f out, kept on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Mymatechris (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec.
Dragoon Guard (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Pulled hard in midfield, headway over 1f out, soon no impression, 9th of 13, 8l behind Mica Mika (8-13) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Obstacle 14-1 (8-11) Chased clear leading pair in 4th, slightly hampered over 3f out, weakened 3f out, 8th of 9, 14l behind Christopher Wren (9-7) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Apr '14.
Devon Drum 11-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, 8th of 11, 14l behind Topaling (8-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) in Nov.
Light Of Asia (IRE) 9-2 (8-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Mr Gallivanter (9-2) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Felix Fabulla 9-4 (8-10) Held up, headway to track leaders over 3f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, no impression, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Toto Skyllachy (9-7) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Mar.
Choral Festival 25-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 10th of 11, 15l behind Gaelic Silver (8-8) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Oct.
Astra Hall 5-1 (8-8) In touch in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression, last of 6, 16l behind Investissement (8-7) at Lingfield 1m 5f clm stks 0-65 (6) pol in Mar.
