prominent, led after 1f, headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
slowly away, always behind
prominent, ridden and lost place 4f out, well beaten final 3f
held up in touch, not clear run 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, stayed on, just held
prominent early, tracked leaders, lost place after 5f, ridden and no impression from over 2f out
mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, held on
led 1f, tracked leader, led again over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, headway 3f out, ridden over 1f out, soon edged left and no impression
tracked leaders, challenged 3f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, switched right well over 1f out, stayed on same pace final 100 yards
held up, ridden and some headway on outside well over 2f out, edged left and no impression over 1f out
Royal Trooper won an amateurs' race over track and trip in December and Helmsley Flyer had Grandiloquent back in fourth when scoring over 1m4f here last time. An apprentice's claim negates a 3lb rise for David O'Meara's four-year-old and he should go close again. Light The City has been running consistently well at Southwell but has yet to win on Polytrack and UNCLE BERNIE is preferred on this surface. Andrew Hollinshead's charge won over 2m at this venue last time and his earlier second over course and distance to the progressive Fire In Babylon earns him the vote in this.
Vexillum (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Always in rear, pushed along 5f out, outpaced over 3f out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Lacey (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Royal Trooper (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) In rear, chased leaders over 3f out to over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 26l behind Luctor Emergo (10-7) at Southwell 1m 6f am hcp (0-70) (5) fbs in Jan.
Sergeant Pink (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, every chance approaching final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Jawaab (9-3) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Blazing Desert 8-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders on outside, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, chased winner until inside final furlong, no extra and lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Fire In Babylon (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
Grandiloquent 5-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and effort over 2f out, lost place 1f out, no extra, 4th of 5, 9l behind Helmsley Flyer (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Tokyo Brown (USA) 10-1 (9-0) Dwelt led after 2f, headed 10f out, tracked leader, ridden to lead again 2f out, headed inside final furlong, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 5l behind Outrageous Request (9-7) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Ice Tres 12-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, soon lost place, weakened final furlong, 10th of 11, 7l behind Whitby Jet (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Helmsley Flyer (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Tracked leader, effort on inside over 1f out, ridden to lead narrowly inside final furlong, kept on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol beating Funky Munky (9-0) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Light The City (IRE) 11-10fav (8-7) Tracked leader, ridden 3f out, led over 1f out, soon headed, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Fire In Babylon (9-0) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
Uncle Bernie (IRE) 9-4 (8-1) Steadied into last, went 3rd 4f out, going well when not clear run over 2f out, went 2nd well over 1f out, soon led, clear inside final furlong, easily, won at Wolverhampton 2m hacp 0-70 (5) pol beating Shalambar (9-3) by 5l, 4 ran.
Excellent News (IRE) 11-1 (8-9) Tracked leader 4f, chased leaders, went 2nd again and challenged over 4f out, pushed along and every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 10l behind Waving (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f app hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
