held up in touch near side, weakened over 1f out
hood removed slightly late, slowly into stride, held up towards rear, trapped behind wall of horses and plenty to do over 1f out, switched right and strong burst well inside final furlong, led near finish
raced keenly, tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway far side over 1f out, not clear run and switched left to far rail inside final furlong, finished well, not reach leaders
took keen hold, held up in touch, pushed along over 1f out, kept on same pace and no impression inside final furlong
took keen hold, tracked leaders, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders and keen, 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed and lost two places towards finish
held up in rear, running on when not clear run well inside final furlong, finished on the bridle but never able to challenge
raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 1f out, weakened towards finish
raced keenly, tracked leader, led narrowly halfway, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
held up in rear, good headway far side over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, headed near finish, lost 2nd last strides
slowly into stride, held up and behind, good headway near side over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, finished well and went 2nd last strides, not pace of winner
raced keenly and reluctant leader at slow pace, headed halfway, chased leader until over 2f out, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong
Nonrunner
Plenty with claims in a competitive and wide-open handicap. Realize went close over a mile last week and won over today’s trip at Chelmsford before that. Steel Train won in this grade over track and trip recently and had earlier been placed behind Pactolus. Flaming Spear scored over a mile here last time but Nimr is upped a grade having won over 6f at Wolverhampton. Mick Easterby has a strong hand with Holiday Magic chasing a four-timer under a penalty and Qaffaal going close again at Lingfield recently. But VOLUNTEER POINT hit top form at this time last year, culminating with victory at the All-Weather Championships, and it could be his turn again today.
Steel Train (FR) 3-1jfav (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up behind, headway 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, hard pressed when edged left inside final furlong, just held on, won at Newcastle 7f hcp (2) pol in Dec beating Fuwairt (8-10) by nk, 10 ran.
Flaming Spear (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led 6f out, made rest, ridden and strongly pressed final furlong, kept on gamely and in control towards finish, won at Newcastle 1m hcp (3) pol in Dec beating Constantino (8-9) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Volunteer Point (IRE) (8-11) 9th of 16, 5 1/4l behind Realtra (8-12) at Deauville 7f lst stks pol in Dec.
Suzi's Connoisseur 10-1 (9-4) In rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 9th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Jordan Sport (8-3) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Grey Mirage 16-1 (9-5) Close up, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 12, 5 1/2l behind My Target (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Pactolus (IRE) 5-1 (8-13) Held up, in mid-division, switched right and headway on outside over 1f out, ridden and stayed on in 4th inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 12, 1 1/4l behind Chester Street (8-4) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Holiday Magic (IRE) 11-4fav (9-2) Prominent, led over 5f out, hard driven over 1f out, ran on well, won at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Jan beating Boots And Spurs (8-7) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Horsted Keynes (FR) 22-1 (9-7) Steadied start always in rear, eased final furlong, last of 9, 13 1/4l behind Peril (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (3) pol in Feb.
Shyron 12-1 (9-7) Always behind, last of 10, 17 1/4l behind Holiday Magic (9-2) at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Nimr 6-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, held on well, won at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (3) pol in Dec beating Upavon (9-1) by nk, 12 ran.
Al Khan (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Mid-division, under pressure over 2f out, soon beaten, 8th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Holiday Magic (9-2) at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Fort Bastion (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Slowly away in rear, switched to outer 3f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, not reach leaders, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Coillte Cailin (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Qaffaal (USA) 9-2jfav (8-11) Held up, wide into straight 2f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, driven and stayed on to go 2nd near finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind My Target (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Realize 11-8fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, soon headed, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Alfred Hutchinson (9-3) at Lingfield 1m stks (2) pol in Jan.
