ridden halfway, behind final 2f
took keen hold, held up rear, headway into mid-division under pressure 2f out, weakened soon after
took keen hold, held up in rear, good headway and squeezed through over 1f out, led inside final furlong, held on well
held up in rear, headway from 2f out, chased winner final 150 yards, kept on, always just held
took keen hold, mid-division, headway to dispute 2nd place over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
disputed lead to over 8f out, chased leader, driven along 2f out, weakened over 1f out
took keen hold, held up in rear, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to troubled leaders
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly away, recovered to lead over 8f out and set slow pace, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, soon one pace and lost 2nd
disputed lead to over 8f out, prominent, ridden to dispute 2nd over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
held up in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
close up, ridden and losing place when hampered 2f out, weakened after
This bunch are tightly compacted with regard to ratings with only 3lb separating the top ten in the weights. Add the fact those lining up are not the most frequent of winners and it exemplifies how difficult these handicaps around here are to solve. ARTREJU is interesting on the basis that he has dropped down to his last winning mark, that win being achieved last May in an amateur riders contest at Newmarket. He has struggled off marks in the 70s subsequently but interestingly only returned from almost four months off on his most recent start and can be expected to come on a bit for it. Risque Heights and Valdan are those that appear most likely to also be involved at the business end. Risque Heights has not scored in over a year. He was well supported to win on his penultimate start but given his hold-up running style, he does need some luck and is not the most straight-forward of characters. This race does represent a drop in class from his last effort and to his credit having raced from out of the handicap, he was far from disgraced. Valdan was forced to thread a wide passage here on his latest start and that possibly was his undoing. A re-production to his second over an additional furlong here would see him go close. He appeared the most likely winner there however, his rider committed too far out and he was nabbed close home. Of the remainder market support for Yvonne Evelyn would be interesting as she has shown gradual improvement in her three maiden outings, the final one when finishing mid-division at Lingfield over this trip and just over three lengths behind rivals rated in the high 70s. Our Kes has been badly out of form in recent times but his staying on sixth last time was a slight indication that he may be returning to form. The handicapper has given him a real chance by dropping him to a mark in the low 60s having been rating in the mid-70s towards the end of August. Ian Mongan gets on very well with him while Paul Howling tends to do very well with his small string here. Good Effect drops back to 10 furlongs from 12 and the tongue tie is re-applied. Artreju is selected to win and land a first victory on the polytrack.
Sudden Impulse 25-1 (9-6) Towards rear, driven and headway over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 4th of 13, 10l behind Brave Mave (9-1) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Nov.
Artreju (GER) 7-1 (9-5) Keen, held up in rear, headway from over 2f out, hung left from over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Don Pietro (9-8) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Risque Heights 15-2 (8-4) Started slowly, towards rear, good headway over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to close on leaders near finish, 4th of 12, 1l behind Wellington Square (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Valdan (IRE) 6-1 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on one pace final furlong, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Stand Guard (9-8) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Our Kes (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Towards rear, steady headway from 2f out, kept on, never near leaders, 6th of 12, 6l behind Can Can Star (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Bianca Capello 20-1 (9-3) Held up behind mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no headway, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 13l behind Fountains Abbey (9-3) at Windsor 1m mdn fll (5) sft in Jul.
Gizmondo 12-1 (9-11) Towards rear, headway 2f out, kept on without threatening under pressure from over 1f out, 4th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Martha Elizabeth (8-2) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 0-60 pol in Sept.
Coral Shores 14-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, led 3f out to over 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, 5th of 14, 6l behind Sainglend (9-4) at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) gf in Oct.
Yvonne Evelyn (USA) 50-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden and headway on inside 2f out, held final furlong, 6th of 10, 6l behind Spouk (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Nov.
Bombardier Wells 20-1 (8-11) Held up behind, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out but never dangerous, 5th of 9, 9l behind Monkey Glas (9-3) at Lingfield 7f clm (6) pol in Nov.
Good Effect (USA) 5-1 (9-8) Held up in rear, not clear run 2f out, soon switched left, good headway over 1f out, ran on strongly final furlong to take 3rd post, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Little Carmela (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Sharps Gold 33-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 8th of 12, 18l behind Royal Island (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
