held up in rear, effort on outside over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened
led after 1f, headed approaching final furlong, edged right, weakened final furlong
led for 1f, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
took keen hold, held up in touch, smooth headway on bit over 1f out, chased winner and ridden firnal furlong, closing at finish, not quite get up
chased leaders, driven and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
took keen hold, held up rear, headway on outside 2f out, led approaching final furlong, edged right, driven out
in touch, pushed along halfway, weakening when not much room, switched right over 1f out
jumped awkwardly, pulled hard and soon prominent, ridden and hung right over 2f out, soon beaten
chased leaders over 4f
Nonrunner
Mac Gille Eoin, Jimmy Styles and Esteem Machine were three progressive sprinters last year and it can pay to concentrate on them here; Esteem Machine gets the vote courtesy of his race fitness being assured. The selection was beaten by Mac Gille Eoin at Goodwood last year when in receipt of 4lbs but the winner excels at the Sussex Downs track and the form can be reversed today. There has been a lot to like about his two recent runs on the all-weather and he's our idea of the winner. Mac Gille Eoin may need a return to Goodwood to be seen at his best and Jimmy Styles may emerge as a bigger danger. He flopped on his final two starts of last season but had looked very good when giving the selection a pound and a 3 length beating at Newbury in August. That run gives him leading claims at the weights if he's back to that sort of form. As ever in sprint handicaps, not many can be confidently dismissed but those three are the most interesting performers in the race with Esteem Machine selected.
Mac Gille Eoin 50-1 (8-8) In touch, effort over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 18th of 23, 20l behind Candidato Roy (9-7) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gs in Sept.
Esteem Machine (USA) 6-4fav (9-4) Mid-division, ridden and effort 2f out, led just inside final furlong, kept on strongly, won at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Apr beating Manchurian (9-3) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Golden Dixie (USA) 16-1 (9-0) Outpaced, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 8, 1/2l behind Chief Editor (8-11) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Phantom Whisper 20-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 16, 6l behind Obe Gold (8-6) at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
Border Music 9-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders going well, effort over 1f out, found nil, 6th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Bonus (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Oct.
Dazed And Amazed 14-1 (8-13) In touch, hard ridden 2f out, onepaced and no impression on leaders over 1f out, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Safari Mischief (8-5) at Goodwood 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gs.
Jimmy Styles 10-1 (8-9) Prominent, ridden along halfway, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 22, 6l behind Tamagin (8-10) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Oct.
Southandwest (IRE) 20-1 (8-10) Held up mid-division, one pace final furlong, 10th of 18, 3 1/2l behind Cape (8-11) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Apr.
Woodcote (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Reared, badly start, never on terms after, 9th of 10, 10l behind Safari Mischief (8-5) at Goodwood 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gs.
Rainbow Mirage (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 4l behind Nobilissima (8-10) at Leicester 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Apr.
Brunelleschi 9-2 (9-0) Slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden halfway, no impression, 10th of 15, 9l behind Tudor Prince (9-4) at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Oct.
