held up in rear, headway under pressure on outside 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, never reached leaders
held up, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
slowly into stride, soon recovered and in touch, ridden and headway over 2f out, switched left inside final 2f, ran on inside final furlong
chased leaders on outside, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, caught last strides
never better than mid-division
always rear
prominent to halfway, weakened quickly
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, led final strides
chased leaders over 3f
held up in rear, headway on wide outside over 2f out, every chance when hung left and weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra near finish
chased leaders on inside, every chance 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
took keen hold, held up behind leaders, ridden and hampered inside final 2f, soon weakened
took keen hold, in touch on outside, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
An open Apprentice handicap to get us underway and narrow preference is for Adantino ahead of Rhapsilian and Punching. The last-named comes here on the back of a win at Brighton but that was in a lowly seller and whilst he is reliable, it remains to be seen whether he is good enough to win at this level. Instead, Adantino, a proven course and distance winner is fancied to carry top-weight to victory. James Millman has the advantage of knowing his horse inside and out, something that some of these apprentices won't, and following a good second here last time, he is taken to go one better. Morse hasn't quite found his level recently, and this course and distance winner may not be winning today with an inexperienced jockey aboard. Bobby rose has claims, as he doesn't look to be too harshly treated at present, whilst Caustic Wit knows how to win but isn't getting any better at the age of ten. Rhapsilian looks an obvious danger; he was well-fancied last time out when he bumped into a fair sort at Kempton, however he is yet to win on the turf and so we are happy to take him on. A tough start, but Adantino could be the best of the bunch.
Adantino 14-1 (9-5) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Savile's Delight (8-8) at Windsor 6f app hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Bateleur 50-1 (8-9) In touch far side, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened and eased over 1f out, last of 18, well behind Bankable (8-11) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp (4) gs in Sept.
Memphis Man 5-1 (8-12) Always towards rear, 9th of 14, 4l behind Savile's Delight (8-8) at Windsor 6f app hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Rydal Mount (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Held up, not clear run and switched left over 2f out, drifted left and stayed on final furlong, never a danger, 7th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Savile's Delight (8-8) at Windsor 6f app hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Bobby Rose 10-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 9th of 11, 9l behind Hammer of The Gods (9-3) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
Morse (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden well over 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 14, 15l behind Cornus (9-10) at Nottingham 6f hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct.
Tadlil 22-1 (8-11) Always towards rear, last of 14, 7l behind Savile's Delight (8-8) at Windsor 6f app hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Punching 4-1 (9-12) Mid-division, not much room approaching 2f out, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, pushed clear, won at Brighton 6f sll (6) gd in Apr beating Kyllachy Storm (9-6) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Witchry 10-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden and not much room 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 3l behind Spanish Ace (9-8) at Warwick 5f hcap (5) gf in Apr '07.
Scarlet Oak 40-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 16, 7l behind Very Well Red (8-12) at Bath 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Equuleus Pictor 10-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Savile's Delight (8-8) at Windsor 6f app hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Grey Boy (GER) 40-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, effort 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Savile's Delight (8-8) at Windsor 6f app hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Caustic Wit (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 16, 9l behind Efisio Princess (8-5) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct.
Rhapsilian 4-1fav (8-6) Held up in rear, headway on inside 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, took 2nd near finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Vintage (8-11) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Apr.
