pushed along leaving stalls, mid-division, headway on inside over 4f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, dropped rear 6f out, stayed on from over 1f out, never nearer
slowly into stride, raced keenly, headway after 3f, weakened over 3f out
chased clear leading pair until over 4f out, weakened over 3f out
held up, pushed along 7f out, headway over 3f out, came wide entering straight, weakened final furlong
chased leader, led 5f out, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well
slowly into stride, held up, pushed along halfway, headway over 5f out, chased winner 4f out, one pace, no impression over 1f out
led, clear 10f out, headed 5f out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, not clear run over 4f out, headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
in touch, lost place after 4f, headway 6f out, hampered, lost place over 4f out, no danger after
held up, headway after 3f, hampered, lost place over 4f out, tailed off
chased leaders, not much room, switched right over 4f out, one pace final 2f
Nonrunner
The usual open handicap to keep punters at the track here and recent winners Merrymaker, Easibet Dot Net, Ronsard and Ice And Fire will all have supporters, and we will side with Merrymaker. Mark Brisbourne's gelding is flying at present and has gone up a stone for two wins over 1m 6f at this track. The latest of those was very easy, he stays this trip well, and although a 9lb rise will make it tougher he looks up to it. Easibet Dot Net is upped 4lb for a c&d success last time and he will be staying on strongly at the end and looking to expose any stamina doubts in his opponents. Ronsard is another 1m 6f winner here and carries a penalty for winning a very poor handicap last time, so he may well be found out now. Ice And Fire nicked a race from Haatmey at Lingfield on Tuesday but a penalty certainly makes him vulnerable now, while Bond Casino is up 2lb for not winning and Bugsy's Boy up 5lb, so although they can both go very well still from their new marks they do not have the look of 'good things' and Merrymaker can continue to make his supporters merry.
Merrymaker 11-4 (9-6) Slowly into stride, headway over 4f out, led 2f out, clear inside final furlong, eased near finish, won at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Rickety Bridge (9-9) by 5l, 6 ran.
Easibet Dot Net 10-1 (8-9) Soon pushed along in rear, headway over 2f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Estate (10-0) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Ronsard (IRE) 9-1 (10-5) Prominent, chasing leaders when slightly hampered and switched over 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at W'hampton 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol beating Cumbrian Knight (10-9) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Bond Casino 15-2 (9-2) Led and set steady pace, headed after 1f, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Blue Hills (9-8) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Ice And Fire 33-1 (10-8) Steadied start, held up in rear, headway 3f out, ran on to lead final strides, won at Lingfield 2m amt hcp (6) pol beating Haatmey (11-0) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Bugsy's Boy 3-1fav (8-10) Broke well, prominent, led approaching 3f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Young Scotton (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Nov.
Squirtle (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Towards rear, some late headway, never troubled leaders, 4th of 13, 8l behind Young Scotton (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Nov.
Pre Eminance (IRE) 150-1 (8-2) Led after 1f, ridden and headed over 3f out, soon lost place, weakened 1f out, 12th of 13, 19l behind Double Banded (8-10) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
All Native (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Towards rear, headway approaching straight, switched to outer and kept on well under pressure without threatening final furlong, 3rd of 16, 2l behind Be My Magic (8-8) at Sligo 1m 2f hcp 0-60 gd in Jun '06.
Park's Prodigy 4-1 (8-6) Held up behind leaders, outpaced over 3f out, driven 2f out and stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Mr Crystal (8-7) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) gf in Jun.
Curristown Pet (IRE) 50-1 (8-9) Never a factor, 7th of 10, 17l behind Perpetual Motion (9-5) at Navan 1m 3yo mdn gd in Jun.
Black Mogul 9-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 13, 8l behind Oasis Sun (8-12) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Nov.
Litigious 50-1 (9-0) With leader for 2f, soon behind and tailed off, last of 12, well behind Buscador (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (G) fbs in Jul '03.
