dropped in behind front pair, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no impression
made all, ridden when clear inside final furlong, ran on well
pressed winner, pushed along 2f out, soon ridden, no impression when lost 2nd inside final furlong
A winner six times on the Polytrack, this should prove a straightforward task for DESERT STRIKE. He has the best recent form in handicap company and had Steelcut behind over C&D early last month. Straboe finished second on that occasion and a line through him also gives Alan McCabe's charge the beating of Hypnosis. Galpin Junior has taken quite a drop in the weights and may be better than his current rating suggests after showing signs of a return to form at Southwell last time.
Desert Strike 15-2 (9-6) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Six Wives (9-1) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Steelcut 14-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden on outside over 2f out, edged left inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Desert Strike (9-5) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Galpin Junior (USA) 20-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced halfway, driven and rallied to go 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Soopacal (9-1) at Southwell 5f clm stks (6) fbs in Feb.
Hypnosis 6-1 (9-5) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Straboe (9-2) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Duplicity 25-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, behind and soon outpaced, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, never near leaders, 6th of 8, 5l behind Sharp Shoes (9-5) at Wolverhampton 5f sell stks (6) pol.
Lord of The Reins (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Behind, outpaced over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, never on terms, 7th of 8, 6l behind Sharp Shoes (9-5) at Wolverhampton 5f sell stks (6) pol.
