held up, ridden over 2f out, effort over 1f out, no impression final furlong
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in rear, ridden and plenty to do 2f out, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
held up, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
close up, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
always in rear
held up, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
soon led, ridden and headed 2f out, faded inside final furlong
in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
keen early tracked leaders, headway to lead 2f out, pushed clear, comfortable
close up, ridden to chase clear winner approaching final furlong, kept on
slowly away headway to mid-division 8f out, weakened over 2f out
This famous old handicap has only returned only one winning favourite in the last 10 renewals. BARSANTI will probably start somewhere near the head of the betting and may not represent much value but he won a lowly handicap without breaking sweat on his reappearance at Chelmsford and there should be plenty more to come from him. His main rivals in this are not the easiest to win with and it took Pactolus six starts this year to get his head back in front. He won at Chelmsford with Freud back in fourth while Afonso De Sousa and Castilo Del Diablo have not won since 2014 and Master Of Finance remains 10lb higher than his latest success nearly a year ago. Dutch Uncle has only won a maiden so far and has not raced since July but course winner Giantstepsahead could go well with Cayirli, an import from France, an unknown quantity on this surface.
Afonso De Sousa (USA) (9-6) 14th of 0, 8 1/2l behind The Blue Eye (9-3) at Doha 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Feb.
Master Of Finance (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) With leader, ridden over 3f out, lost place from 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 32 1/4l behind This Is The Day (9-6) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Castilo Del Diablo (IRE) 13-2 (9-0) Held up in last pair, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 8, 1l behind Winterlude (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Whispering Warrior (IRE) 11-2 (8-9) Led 1f, tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 7, 4 1/2l behind Intrude (8-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Cayirli (FR) 8-11fav (8-13) 2nd of 5, 2l behind Shutterbug (9-4) at Toulouse 1m 2f stks sft in Nov.
Saoi (USA) 8-1 (9-10) Steadied start, held up last, some late headway, never involved, 6th of 7, 6 1/4l behind All Talk N No Do (9-9) at Ascot 1m 6f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Pactolus (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Went left start, took keen hold, held up in touch, ridden and effort 2f out, challenged inside final furlong, stayed on to lead narrowly close home, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Mar beating Stetchworth (9-2) by hd, 8 ran.
Giantstepsahead (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Led, ridden 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Sheila's Buddy (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Feb.
Viewpoint (IRE) 18-1 (8-12) Held up behind, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on inside final furlong, held near finish, 4th of 10, 3/4l behind Perfect Cracker (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Barsanti (IRE) 11-10fav (9-6) Shows signs of greenness at times, held up, closed over 4f out, not much room when challenging just over 1f out, led entering final furlong, soon clear, easily, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Feb beating Qasser (9-4) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Dutch Uncle 2-1fav (8-11) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway on inside over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, hung left from 2f out, soon switched right, hung left and went 3rd final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 9, 6 1/2l behind Jakey (9-11) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Freud (FR) 7-4fav (9-3) Chased leading pair, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd final strides, 3rd of 7, 1/2l behind Whoopsy Daisy (8-8) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
