in touch, driven 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden along halfway, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, effort when outpaced halfway
held up, headway over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong
towards rear, soon chased along, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong
made virtually all, ridden over 2f out, driven and battled on final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, driven and kept on final furlong
towards rear, ridden along and headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
A decent little handicap for the track here where Winthorpe is taken to score from Sweet Pickle and Tag Team. The selection has won three times over c&d, the latest of which came off a 6lb lower mark earlier in the month, when he won with some authority. A 7lb rise was just enough to get the better of him at Wolverhampton last time, but he is better here and is dropped 1lb, and looks good enough to go in again. Sweet Pickle has also got a couple of c&d successes to his name and is just 2lb higher than when winning at Wolverhampton over this trip last month but on balance that looks just oo much weight again. Tag Team is very consistent but is better on other all weather surfaces than here, though he is expected to turn up and gives his running again and Gone 'N' Dunnett should be taken seriously now returned to this much more suitable track than Lingfield, where he was soundly beaten on Saturday, so watch the market for clues. It's competitive, and we think Winthorpe can live up to his name.
Doubtful Sound (USA) 11-2 (8-9) Led, ridden and headed halfway, soon beaten, 6th of 7, 13l behind Crimson King (8-8) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Dec.
Spoof Master (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Outpaced, 9th of 10, 7l behind Northern Empire (9-1) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs in Dec.
Eloquent Rose (IRE) 25-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 10, 5l behind Carcinetto (9-0) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Cool Sands (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Always rear, never a factor, last of 14, 7l behind Reeling N' Rocking (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Strathmore (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 1f out, no extra, 6th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Figaro Flyer (9-2) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec.
Tag Team (IRE) 9-2fav (8-12) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Figaro Flyer (9-2) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec.
Winthorpe (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Soon in mid-division, headway on inside well over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 12, nk behind Perlachy (8-12) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Gone'n'dunnett (IRE) 11-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Muktasb (8-13) at Lingfield 6f hcap (6) pol in Dec.
Sweet Pickle 7-2jt-fav (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Tilly's Dream (9-2) at W'hampton 6f fll hcp (5) pol in Nov.
