raced keenly towards rear, never in contention
in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, chased winner over 2f out, stayed pressing winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd final strides
behind, ridden over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong to gain on winner, just failed
tracked winner to over 2f out, kept on until weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, outpaced over 1f out, kept on again inside final furlong
made all, led, shaken up over 1f out, wandered left and right under pressure, pressed well inside final furlong, just held on
held up in rear, headway over 1f out on inside, ran on inside final furlong, not reached leaders
MATSUNOSUKE is taken to continue a tremendous run of form and complete a four-timer at the main expense of Majuro and Doubtful Sound. The selection has been doing most of his winning at Lingfield, but he has scored here in the past so there are no fears over this slightly slower surface. He has gone up a total of 18lbs for those recent efforts, and burst through late to win a Listed contest last time. His mark is now plenty high enough, but he has to be followed for the moment and with none of the others in such good form we will side with him. Majuro keeps bumping into one too good and may again have to suffer the same fate here. Kevin Ryan's five-year-old is dropped back from 7f to this trip for the first time in eight starts and it is not certain to be to his advantage so we will take him on. Doubtful Sound won over this trip at Lingfield in January and has a 9lb pull with the selection for less than four lengths on their running at that track later that month. He should be able to finish much closer as a result. The fly in the ointment could be Orpsie Boy, who is a stone better off with the selection for less than a three length beating in that recent Listed race. He acts well here, but consistency is not his strong point and it may be that he was flattered by that run, so we will field against him. Mrs Penny should not be discounted after a run last time that you can put a line through, but Matsunosuke is followed again.
Matsunosuke 11-4 (9-0) Steadied start, dropped into last place, headway over 1f out, strong run, edged left to lead post, won at Lingfield 6f lst stk (1) pol in Feb beating Duff (9-3) by a shd, 7 ran.
Hoh Hoh Hoh 25-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, behind, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 17th of 21, 10l behind Hogmaneigh (9-6) at Doncaster 6f hcap (2) sft in Sept.
Majuro (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (9-2) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, rallied to lead again narrowly 1f out, headed post, 2nd of 7, shd behind Capricorn Run (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Feb.
Orpsie Boy (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Held up, ridden and outpaced 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Matsunosuke (9-0) at Lingfield 6f lst stk (1) pol in Feb.
Doubtful Sound (USA) 2-1fav (9-7) Always prominent, strong challenge over 1f out, ran on, 3rd of 7, hd behind Haajes (8-11) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (3) pol in Feb.
Haajes 8-1 (8-5) Led 1f, chased leaders after, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, last of 6, 3l behind Matsunosuke (9-13) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Feb.
Thebes 9-4fav (9-4) Raced wide, in touch, ridden and headway to chase leaders over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 10l behind Irish Pearl (9-2) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs in Nov.
Mrs Penny (AUS) 7-2 (8-8) Held up in rear, switched left across track over 1f out, never dangerous, 10th of 11, 7l behind Flowing Cape (8-11) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Feb.
