slowly into stride, reminders and headway to chase winner over 6f out until over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 3f out until 2f out, kept on one pace
reared start, held up, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
reluctant to leave stalls and lost many lengths, caught field up after 2f, in rear, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, soon one pace
set steady pace, quickened 3f out, clear over 1f out, unchallenged (hand timed)
keen, tracked winner until over 6f out, remained in touch, ridden over 2f out, slightly outpaced, driven and stayed on to take 2nd close home
held up, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase winner 2f out, soon outpaced, lost 2nd close home
A moderate handicap where the safest bet may be on EVENING SUNSET, while Dark Moment could go very well if consenting to race. Mick Channon's Evening Sunset is not exactly lump-on material as a maiden from nine starts, and as one who has not yet shown much in the way of a turn of foot. He does, however, have stamina beyond this mile trip, and if Paul Hanagan rides him in the van to make best use of that then he might be good enough. Dark Moment won a similar Musselburgh handicap over 7f last month before refusing to race at Catterick last time. This step up in trip looks a positive and if he does consent to race then he should give the selection plenty to do. Ask Dan was the comfortable winner of a Carlisle seller last time out and is suited by conditions. In such an ordinary contest he may well be good enough to make his presence felt. Paint Splash was runner up that day and is 2lbs worse at the weights here, so his task is very tough to try to reverse those placings. Evening Sunset is given the vote.
Izzy Lou (IRE) 15-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, soon driven and weakened, last of 13, 41l behind Voortrekker (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Jun.
Tahfeez (IRE) 40-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed over 3f out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 27l behind African Art (9-3) at Haydock 1m 3yo mdn (5) gf in Apr.
Ask Dan (IRE) 7-2 (8-12) Made all, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 1m 3yo sll (6) gd beating Paint Splash (8-2) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Dark Moment 9-2 (8-12) Left start, behind, soon pulled up, in a race won by He's A Humbug (9-9) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gd, 14 ran.
Evening Sunset (GER) 5-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, not clear run and switched right over 2f out, stayed on under pressure on outside to take 3rd 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Chadwell Spring (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) std.
Winrob 7-1 (8-9) Slowly away in rear, came stand's side 3f out, ridden, hung left and headway over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 9, 9l behind Halfway House (9-3) at Brighton 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) fm in Jun.
Paint Splash 9-4fav (8-2) Behind, headway to challenge over 1f out, kept on no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Ask Dan (8-12) at Carlisle 1m 3yo sll (6) gd.