slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, never able to reach leaders
slowly into stride, held up in rear, never on terms
always prominent, pushed along over 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
slowly into stride, always behind
prominent, chased winner 7f out until over 3f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, soon racing keenly in mid-division, switched right, good headway over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
held up, hung left over 1f out, never nearer
held up towards rear, raced keenly, never nearer
in touch, raced keenly, lost place after 2f, headway 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
chased winner until 7f out, remained prominent, 2nd again over 3f out, no impression inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pulled hard, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, pulled hard, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Another race with an open look to it but POSTMAN was impressive in winning at Southwell last week and is taken to follow up from The Hague, Wunder Strike and Special Cuvee. The selection has hopefully signalled an upturn in fortunes for trainer Bryan Smart, whose yard were woefully out of form until the gelding popped up at a nice price at nearby Southwell, where he had far to much toe for his rivals. A 6lb penalty does not look likely to stop him, though he does have to prove that he goes on fast ground. The Hague is an interesting handicap debutant from the red hot John Gosden yard and he does not have a taxing mark, with the assessor rating him just 66. This trip should be ideal and there is surely more to come now handicapping. Special Cuvee has won a couple of sellers on his last two starts but conditions and trip suit and confidence will be high so he is respected. Wunder Strike has already won two of his four starts this year and was impressive in context at Leicester last time, so with a 6lbs penalty he looks set to be very competitive once again. Venture Capitalist is another who might just be well handicapped on this, his debut in this sphere, and a market check is advised, but we will take Postman to deliver.
Tapis Wizard 16-1 (8-9) Slowly away, held up, headway over 2f out, edged left and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 15l behind Night Of Fortune (9-1) at Chester 7f 2yo hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Special Cuvee 9-4fav (9-3) Awkward start, held up well in rear, headway over 1f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Yarmouth 1m 3yo sll (6) gd beating Why Nee Amy (8-4) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
North Cape (USA) 20-1 (9-3) Mid-division, stayed on steadily from over 1f out without troubling leaders, 5th of 11, 6l behind Maxwell Hawke (9-3) at Warwick 7f 3yo mdn (5) gf.
Shanavaz 100-1 (9-0) Towards rear, headway over 2f, edged left and one pace final furlong, 7th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Fallen In Love (9-0) at Haydock 1m 2yo mdn fll stks (5) gf in Sep.
Green Dynasty (IRE) 3-1 (9-3) Broke well, tracked leader, fading final furlong, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Burza (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Feb.
Incendo 10-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 8th of 15, 7l behind Al Marmoom (9-3) at Yarmouth 1m 2yo mdn (5) sft in Oct.
Ponting (IRE) 11-2 (8-12) Steadied to rear soon after start, keen, ridden over 1f out, never near leaders, 5th of 11, 10l behind Head Down (8-12) at Lingfield 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Venture Capitalist 8-1 (9-3) Towards rear, steady headway from 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd well inside final furlong, not trouble first two, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Takeover Bid (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Postman 11-2 (9-0) Always prominent, led 3f out, hard ridden over 1f out, ran on well, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs beating Miss Cameo (8-6) by 7l, 12 ran.
Dark Echoes 8-1 (9-3) Mid-division and soon chased along, never troubled leaders, 12th of 17, 11l behind Red Rosanna (8-12) at Pontefract 5f 2yo mdn aut (5) gs in Sep.
Wunder Strike (USA) 2-1fav (8-4) Held up, edged left over 5f out, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, ran on, won at Leicester 1m 3yo hcp (5) gf beating Divinatore (9-2) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
First Blade 17-2 (8-13) Tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 10, 2l behind Kings Ace (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Flashgun (USA) 66-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, behind and keen, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 9, 41l behind Svindal (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Quick Single (USA) 12-1 (7-13) Soon well outpaced, last of 5, 10l behind Green Beret (9-3) at Brighton 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Barbee (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Raced far side, mid-division, joined stands side group 4f out, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 11l behind Feeling Fab (9-7) at Newmarket 7f 2yo fll hcp (2) gf in Oct.
The Hague 8-11fav (8-9) In touch, ridden halfway, soon struggling, kept on final furlong, never a factor, 4th of 6, 5l behind Street Devil (9-12) at Southwell 1m mdn stks (5) fbs in Mar.
Another Luke (IRE) 20-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, soon no impression, 6th of 8, 10l behind Pride Of Kings (8-11) at Catterick 7f 2yo hcp (5) gf in Jul.
