held up in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, gaining close home, not quite get up
held up in rear, good headway approaching final furlong, strong run inside final furlong, finished fast, just failed
disputed lead to over 2f out, still every chance over 1f out, no extra and one pace final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, not quickened and one pace from over 1f out
in touch, lost place 3f out, soon ridden and weakened over 2f out
raced on inside in mid-division, ridden along over 2f out, soon outpaced, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, chased winner over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2 places close home
Nothing leaps off the page in this tightly-knit handicap. Perhaps DRIFTING GOLD might bounce back to form off his lowest mark for a while. Clive Cox's gelding races off a mark of 65 today after some less than impressive runs in handicaps at Wolverhampton. Both his all-weather wins came at that track so there may not be too excuses except for perhaps being too high in the weights. He is now rated 5lbs lower than when winning last January and he sneaks back into a 0-65 for the first time in some while. Night Premiere has the sort of record that encourages each way backers but a win bet would surely be perilous, Ten Down is good on his day but he has not had a going day recently, whilst Sir Don signed off with a win last year and must be respected back on the track after nearly a year on the sidelines. One Way Ticket is on a pauper's mark, whilst Gwilym has been tumbling down the weights lately as well. A race that throws up more questions than answers, but we will take a stab in the dark with Drifting Gold.
Drifting Gold 18-1 (8-10) Tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 9l behind Northern Empire (8-13) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Ten Down 7-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden well over 1f out, soon beaten, 11th of 13, 10l behind Nickel Silver (8-13) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Gwilym (GER) 11-1 (9-2) Prominent until ridden and weakened over 1f out, 12th of 13, 10l behind Nickel Silver (8-13) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Spoof Master (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Slight lead to 2f out, remained prominent, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, no extra well inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 1l behind Azygous (9-1) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Pegasus Dancer (FR) 25-1 (8-12) Always in rear, struggling over 2f out, last of 9, 10l behind Musical Script (8-11) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Sir Don (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Soon led, ridden 2f out, edged right final furlong, held on, won at W'hampton 5f hcp (6) pol beating Egyptian Lord (8-9) by a shd, 8 ran.
Ben 33-1 (9-5) Held up, ridden 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 4th of 8, 4l behind Thoughtsofstardom (9-4) at Lingfield 5f app hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Night Premiere (IRE) 11-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, headed and not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Thoughtsofstardom (8-13) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
She's Our Beauty (IRE) 25-1 (8-0) In touch, ridden along halfway, weakened over 1f, 9th of 13, 7l behind Fyodor (9-9) at Southwell 5f clm (6) fbs in Dec.
One Way Ticket 25-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, rallied again close home, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Fantasy Fighter (8-7) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
