slowly into stride, behind, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out (wore cheek pieces)
prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened and eased final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong
prominent, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
led to over 3f out, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
chased leaders, driven over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
behind, ridden halfway, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, nearest finish (wore cheek pieces)
prominent, effort halfway, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, no impression approaching final furlong (wore cheek pieces)
in touch, driven over 2f out, kept on final furlong
Another big-field handicap that, at first glance, looks to be a real minefield for backers. However, with most of the runners out of form or badly handicapped this may not be as a competitive event as it appears. Both Tussle and Social Contract have slipped to attractive marks but in their current form neither can be backed with any confidence and, while Tappit is running well at present, Milton Bradley's representative seems in the grip of the handicapper at the moment. Dean Ivory's Mister Clinton holds claims on the strength of a good second at Bath last month but has disappointed on two starts since. Cool Tune is difficult to assess on his first start in a handicap but James Fanshawe's gelding should this step up in trip, although a softer surface would probably be ideal but the one that gets the TEAMtalk vote is Blue Star. Second behind Dayglow Dancer at Haydock last week from 9lbs wrong in the weights, the son of Whittingham can race off his proper mark here and, if able to reproduce his last time out running, he should take all the beating.
