raced wide, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5th, led 3 out, ridden and kept on gamely flat
raced on inside, tracked leading trio, hit 3 out, went 2nd and not fluent 2 out, no impression when dropped to 3rd approaching and hit last, weakened flat
held up in 7th, behind after 4th, pushed along and struggling before next, tailed off
disputed lead until hit 5th, weakened rapidly soon after 3 out, tailed off
took keen hold in 5th, mistake 3 out, weakened soon after
held up in touch in 6th, headway to chase leading pair after 6th, driven to 2nd approaching last, readily held flat
held up, headway 5th, ridden in 5th after 3 out, driven to well held 4th when blundered and fell last
pulled hard, held up and not fluent, some headway on outside to modest 6th 3 out, soon beaten, tailed off
disputed lead until advantage 5th, headed next, chased winner until before 2 out, soon ridden and beaten, left modest 4th last
Any number of feasible winners in a very tight race. Alph is opposable on the basis that he's never won a handicap off a mark this high and at 13 certainly isn't on the up, whereas at the other end of the spectrum Grafite may want further than this and smart flat horse Don't Panic has been hard to get right. Sun Quest ran well enough last time to be considered and American World is becoming well-treated, but SLEW CHARM just edges the vote. Noel Chance has a 50% strike-rate from his rare forays to this venue in recent years and his gelding should enjoy the drop in trip. Testing ground isn't considered a problem as he's gone well enough on it before and on old form he's very nicely treated, all of which means he's then token selection in a virtually impossible puzzle.
Alph 9-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge last, never on terms, 5th of 12, 14l behind Cheshire Prince (11-4) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Slew Charm (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders before next, soon switched left to challenge, kept on same pace, 5th of 16, 13l behind Gold Reef (10-13) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gs.
Sebastiano (FR) 14-1 (10-6) In rear until pulled up before 4th, in a race won by Nortonthorpe Lad (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in May, 11 ran.
American World (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Led until 2nd, stayed prominent until lost place 4th, soon in rear, tailed off, 15th of 19, 47l behind Devil To Pay (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs.
Zafranagar (IRE) 11-2 (10-2) Held up in rear, took keen hold, carried left 2nd, mistake 5th, soon pushed along, outpaced approaching 2 out, never able to trouble leaders, 5th of 8, 8l behind Majaales (11-5) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Apr.
Perfect Reward 8-1 (11-8) With leader, led 2nd, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 37l behind Liberty Seeker (10-11) at Towcester 2m sell hdl (5) gs.
Grafite 25-1 (10-12) Pulled hard in rear, headway after 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, never able to challenge, 5th of 12, 9l behind Safran De Cotte (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Don't Panic (IRE) 18-1 (11-8) Held up well in rear, some headway after 4 out, struggling next, tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind Finian's Rainbow (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov '09.
Sun Quest 6-1 (10-9) Prominent, led 2 out, headed last, one pace, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Pennellis (11-7) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
