keen raced wide, headway to press leader after 3f, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on one pace
slowly away raced wide in touch, effort and very wide into straight 2f out, not trouble leaders
keen close up, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
pulled hard tracked leader 3f, tracked leaders, headway to chase leader over 1f out, edged left and led inside final furlong, ridden out
steadied start, keen in touch in rear, ridden over 1f out, never on terms
TOUSSAROCK has been threatening to get his head back in front and he’s proven over the trip unlike Obtuse. Nortonthorpe Boy is upped in grade and also the weights and may come unstuck while Praise Of Shadows makes his all-weather debut following wind surgery and a subsequent lay-off. Sweet Bertie is unexposed and has a first and third to his name here so looks the biggest threat to the selection.
Sweet Bertie (IRE) 5-2fav (9-7) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, faded final furlong, 3rd of 6, 4 3/4l behind Final Voyage (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f (4) pol in Dec.
Toussarok 13-2 (9-3) Soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Fayathaan (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Obtuse (IRE) 11-4 (8-10) Soon led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra, last of 3, 2 1/4l behind Warrior Brave (9-5) at Lingfield 6f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Praise Of Shadows (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Took keen hold in midfield, pushed along 3f out, held from over 1f out, 5th of 7, 7l behind Paws For Thought (9-0) at Chester 7f (4) gd in Sep.
Nortonthorpe Boy 2-1fav (10-1) Made all, ridden 2f out, ran on well, won at Kempton 1m hcp (6) pol in Jan beating Woodview (9-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Nagasaki Dream 50-1 (8-3) Steadied star, took keen hold in rear, pushed along over 1f out, never on terms, 6th of 7, 11 3/4l behind Fayathaan (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (4) pol in Jan.