led, headed well over 1f out, soon ridden, rallied and every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
chased leaders in 3rd, led well over 1f out, driven out, held on well towards finish
chased leader, until weakened 2f out
prominent, headway final furlong, soon ridden, stayed on, just held towards finish
slowly into stride, in rear, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, soon headway, kept on entering final furlong
Mark Johnston has had his string in sparkling form this winter and GARGANO can add to that record in a competitive handicap with the on-form Clear Sailing making plenty of appeal and Demolition looks interesting on his belated return. A winner of back to back races at the turn of the year pick run a cracker of a race behind a seriously well handicapped subsequent dual winner last time out. The handicapper hasn't let that form go unnoticed and while he is untested on this slower surface he should handle it and gets the call to build on that last effort. Clear Sailing is in the middle of a purple patch as he goes for a four timer. All of those wins have come in claimers and we're not sure he's particularly well treated back in these ranks, however, on this form he remains of note. Demolition was last seen in October in a better contest at York. He scored in a valuable handicap at Ayr during the summer so if finally showing some form on the polytrack he will be a leading player. Kames Park is consistent in the main and won over course and distance three starts back. He still looks a little high in the weights to score but he should challenge for minor prizes. Mark Johnston will be confident he's got the beating of Hallstatt, who he used to train and that one will have to improve for another change of handler so Gargano should be the one to side with.
Demolition 14-1 (8-11) Chased winner until 3f out, soon ridden, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 6, 4l behind Peligroso (8-11) at York 1m 2f cond Stakes (3) gd in Oct.
Clear Sailing 11-10fav (9-3) Raced in 3rd, 2nd going well over 3f out, led over 2f out, came centre straight, soon in command, pushed out final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 4f clm stks (6) pol in Jan beating Theocritus (9-13) by 2l, 6 ran.
Gargano (IRE) 6-1 (8-9) Set steady pace, ridden and quickend over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Spruce (8-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Bavarica 20-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, never near leaders, 4th of 9, 5l behind Satwa Moon (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Kames Park (IRE) 5-1 (8-10) Switched left after start, held up in last place, ridden 2f out, staying on when not clear run and switched right 1f out, stayed on towards finish, never nearer, 5th of 9, 7l behind Benedict Spirit (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Hallstatt (IRE) 7-2 (8-12) Held up, towards rear, switched right to outside well over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Whodunit (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f sell stks (6) pol in Feb.
Gremlin 12-1 (8-5) Hampered soon after start, in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway 1f out, went 4th inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 9, 6l behind Benedict Spirit (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
