tracked leaders, headway to lead 2f out, ridden and edged right under pressure, inside final furlong, headed and no extra towards finish
held up, headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on strongly inside final furlong to lead towards finish
held up, some headway over 2f out, ridden and weakend over 1f out
tracked leader, led over 3f out, headed 2f out, no impression final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong, never troubled leaders
mid-division, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened and eased
mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on and every chance inside final furlong, held towards finish
always behind
led, held over 3f out, soon ridden and weakened
Nonrunner
This is a wide open handicap and narrow preference is for HORATIO CARTER over Eton Rifles and Sir Xaar. The selection won well on his seasonal return at Thirsk and he looks a decent bet to follow-up here. He should strip fitter for the run, he has the fast ground that he needs to be seen at his best and he remains unexposed so there is plenty to recommend him. Eton Rifles is a lightly-raced 4-year-old who won his maiden in decent style when last seen out in September. He is interesting on his handicap debut, but we don't yet know how well treated he is and he does have an absence to overcome. Sir Xaar ran too badly to be true last time so it is fair to assume that a better effort can be expected here. Borasco has got course and distance winning form and he has got a decent strike-rate on the turf. The Osteopath was well beaten last time and he is hard to recommend off the back of that effort. We will therefore stick with Horatio Carter as the pick.
Horatio Carter 9-1 (9-1) Chased leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven out final furlong, won at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf beating Bold Marc (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
The Osteopath (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never trouble leaders, 13th of 16, 7l behind Flawed Genius (8-10) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Sir Xaar (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Always towards rear, last of 12, 24l behind Opus Maximus (8-13) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Borasco (USA) 5-1 (9-1) Chased leader until over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 2l behind Xpres Maite (9-4) at Southwell 6f hcap (3) fbs in Feb.
Dabbers Ridge (IRE) 18-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon chased leaders, one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Opus Maximus (8-13) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Game Lad 40-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, 11th of 14, 11l behind Horatio Carter (9-1) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Hinton Admiral 7-1 (8-13) Always behind, 9th of 12, 10l behind Opus Maximus (8-13) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Eton Rifles (IRE) 7-2fav (9-3) In touch, led 3f, quicken over 1f out, ran on final furlong, won at Catterick 7f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gs in Sep beating Somerset Falls (8-12) by 8l, 15 ran.
Memphis Man 9-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, ridden over 1f out, stayed on, 6th of 12, 5l behind Westwood (8-5) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Apr.
Strabinios King 16-1 (8-5) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, 11th of 12, 15l behind Opus Maximus (8-13) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Celtic Sultan (IRE) 6-1 (8-11) Led, headed 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Mister Hardy (8-8) at Chester 1m hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Daaweitza 11-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 6th of 12, 6l behind Twilight Star (11-0) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Apr.
Middlemarch (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Towards rear, ridden along and headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 4l behind Smarty Socks (9-12) at Doncaster 7f ldy hcp (4) gf in Apr.
