led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened
close up, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, headway and edged left inside final furlong, kept on
close up, ridden 2f out, not clear run and short of room over 1f out, weakened final furlong
raced wide prominent, pushed along to lead approaching final furlong, ran on
tracked leader until pushed along 2f out, soon edged left, weakened final furlong
close up, not clear run entering final 2f, switched ridden and lost ground over 1f out, ridden and ran on to go 2nd towards finish
raced wide in touch, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
Barristan The Bold defied a penalty to win a novices' races at Chester a fortnight ago but is 8lb higher than when landing a handicap at Sandown earlier. Baronial Pride was placed at this level at Hamilton last time and is preferred to stablemate and Nottingham winner Mr Diamond while Indian Viceroy won a couple of novice races before beaten in a nursery at Doncaster. It was testing ground when SHALLOW HAL won a Class 2 contest over 6f at Ayr on his handicap debut, beating a subsequent winner in the process. He should stay today’s extra distance on that evidence and Karl Burke’s colt gets the vote. It remains to be seen how Happy Power and Fraser Island fare now handicapping for the first time with the latter representing last year’s winning yard.
Barristan The Bold 9-4 (9-8) Broke well from wide draw to chase leaders, went 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ran on well, won at Chester 7f stks (4) gs in Sep beating Water Diviner (9-8) by 3l, 11 ran.
Baronial Pride 9-4fav (9-6) Towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, kept on, unable to challenge, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Princes Des Sables (8-11) at Hamilton 6f (2) sft in Sep.
Indian Viceroy 4-1 (9-1) Raced in stands side pair, in touch, effort over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression final furlong, 5th of 8, 5l behind Leroy Leroy (9-0) at Doncaster 1m (2) gd in Sep.
Caballero (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Towards rear, driven 2f out, ridden and kept on under pressure inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 7th of 21, 4 3/4l behind Summer Daydream (8-9) at Redcar 6f lst (1) gd in Oct.
Fraser Island (IRE) 9-4fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, driven over 3f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 4l behind Buckman Tavern (9-5) at Carlisle 1m mdn stks (4) hvy in Sep.
Watchmyeverymove (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Pushed along in rear, ridden 2f out, headway under pressure entering final furlong, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Isaan Queen (9-6) at Yarmouth 6f (4) gf in Sep.
Mr Diamond (IRE) 7-1 (8-7) Mid-division, headway 3f out, challenged inside final furlong, kept on to lead post, won at Nottingham 6f (3) gd in Oct beating Pirate (8-3) by shd, 11 ran.
Shallow Hal 4-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Ayr 6f (2) hvy in Sep beating Epona (8-8) by 2l, 11 ran.
Happy Power (IRE) 15-8fav (9-8) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and hung right over 1f out, kept on in 3rd inside final furlong, never going pace to threaten, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind East (8-11) at Hamilton 6f stks (4) sft in Sep.
