close up, badly hampered over 4f out and lost place, ridden 2f out, headway on inside over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on but no chance with winner
slowly into stride, in rear, kept on final furlong, never nearer
held up, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, hung right 2f out, soon ridden, switched right and stayed on inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
keen, in touch, short of room and hampered 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong
soon pushed along towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
keen, chased leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden and hung left over 1f out, never dangerous
In this handicap, we will side with Bullseye, with his main dangers reckoned to be Bodden Bay, Follow My Lead and Little Warning. Despite his breeding, Bullseye has shown plenty of speed, particularly here over five furlongs last time and he looks sure to build on that over today's extra furlong. He is also well-drawn and looks to be growing up now, too, so could yet prove to be on a fair mark. Bodden Bay has winning course and distance form and looks fairly weighted so, even under his penalty, can go well, while Follow My Lead is a possible improver from a good yard, and Little Warning's stable is in good heart and he showed enough last year to be afforded some consideration off a modest mark. Angel River is six lengths better off for the five-and-a-half lengths she finished behind Bodden Bay at Southwell last time, so that might not be enough to turn things around, while Piddies Pride would have a very good chance on form of 16 months ago but seems better in selling class now. Beverley Beau is another not to have so far built on her early form, and Swift Dame, despite being from a good yard, is another that needs to step up on what has so far shown. All of which spins us back to the selection, which is Bullseye.
Bodden Bay 11-1 Chased leader, effort over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to lead near finish, won at Southwell 6f 3yo hcp gf beating Brut by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Follow My Lead 33-1 Held up behind, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 9l behind Penkenna Princess at Kempton 6f 2yo mdn fll (D3) gd in Sept.
Depressed 9-2 Led to halfway, soon ridden and weakened, last of 12, 21l behind Ashes at W'hampton 5f 2yo mdn aut (F4) pol in Dec.
Bullseye 5-2 Chased winner throughout, driven 2f out, closed under pressure inside final furlong, no impression near finish, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Elliot's Choice at Lingfield 5f mdn stk pol.
Angel River 4-1fav Chased leaders, ridden halfway, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, 4th of 14, 6l behind Bodden Bay at Southwell 6f 3yo hcp gf.
Piddies Pride (IRE) 7-1 Mid-division until 4f out, last of 13, 16l behind Glasson Lodge at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo sll (G4) pol in Mar.
Beverley Beau 16-1 Chased leaders to over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 9l behind Angelofthenorth at Musselburgh 5f 3yo hcp gs in Mar.
Swift Dame (IRE) 33-1 With leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, soon eased, last of 12, 19l behind Chief Dipper at Lingfield 1m 3yo hcp (E3) pol in Mar.
