tracked leader, ridden when short of room over 1f out, kept on one pace
led, ridden and edged right over 1f out, headed inside final furlong
raced wide tracked leaders, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
awkwardly away in rear, pushed along halfway, never a factor
always in rear
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt in touch, ridden 2f out, headway entering final furlong, ran on, not reach leaders
This has been run three times and Peter Crate has won two so the returning Smoothtalkinrascal, who hasn't had much all-weather experience, is one to keep an eye on. Burning Thread has been running well at this level since landing a Kempton handicap in December so it will be a surprise if he's not there at the finish but BERTIE BLU BOY (NAP) will take some beating. He completed a hat-trick on Polytrack last summer including at Class 3 level and showed he was as good as ever when a close second on his comeback here last month. Equally Fast was last seen running well for fourth in a handicap at Ascot in October and if ready for this would have to rate a threat.
Burning Thread (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Sandfrankskipsgo (9-6) at Lingfield 5f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Bertie Blu Boy 8-1 (9-5) Led, hung right and headed over 1f out, rallied closing stages, ran on, 2nd of 7, nk behind Stellarta (9-0) at Lingfield 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Equally Fast 16-1 (8-8) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, lost two places near finish, 4th of 16, 1l behind Shipyard (9-0) at Ascot 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Smoothtalkinrascal (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Awkwardly away in rear, ridden 2f out, staying on inside final furlong when not clear run and hampered, not recover, 8th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Stocking (9-6) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Dark Side Dream 7-1 (9-2) Keen close up, ridden and weakened 2f out, 8th of 9, 18 3/4l behind Razin' Hell (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Bahamian Sunrise 8-1 (9-7) Hampered start, driven forward to set strong pace, headed over 1f out, faded final furlong, last of 7, 4 3/4l behind Point North (9-6) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Diamond Charlie (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Raced freely in midfield, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 4 1/4l behind Bouclier (9-2) at Kempton 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar.