tracked leader, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, weakened towards finish
led, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in mid-division on inside, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
slowly into stride, towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden entering final furlong, soon led, kept on
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leaders, riddn 2f out, weakened final furlong
MARKHESA was eye-catching in defeat last time and having improved in two starts this camapaign she is the one for us in this handicap while Headache and Aflaam also have a chance of going close. Having place on her seasonal bow at Lingfield the pick then went on to nearly grab victory late at Ffos Las last time out. She is up in the handicap for that but she is open to improvement and is likely to come on for those first two starts of the year. Headache has been solid off this mark since scoring over seven furlongs at Lingfield at the start of the year so although he should give his running again th step up in trip isn't an obvious plus. Aflaam is weighted out of a challenge based on some recent runs at Lingfield but so far his runs at this track are a little off putting. Having A Ball is much better in this sphere than on the turf so with his last run ignored he can go well but the more we look at this race the more we like Markhesa.
Aflaam (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 1f out, one pace, 7th of 13, 5l behind Striding Edge (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Expensive Problem 8-1 (8-6) Held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, no impression final furlong, 8th of 9, 6l behind Aflaam (8-6) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Having A Ball 4-1fav (8-8) Held up, always in rear, 11th of 14, 29l behind Very Well Red (9-0) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-65 (6) sft.
Eastern Gift 13-2 (9-1) Held up in rear, pushed along over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, never troubled leaders, 5th of 10, 10l behind King's Icon (8-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
Headache 7-2fav (8-9) Raced wide in touch, ridden over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 5th of 11, 4l behind Hip Hip Hooray (8-4) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Land Hawk (IRE) 17-2 (8-6) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 10, 11l behind Dajen (8-10) at Yarmouth 1m hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Millfields Dreams 20-1 (9-4) Held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 11, 27l behind West End Lad (8-10) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-65 (6) sft.
Altimatum (USA) 9-2 (9-3) Held up in touch, ridden and effort over 1f out, soon one pace, 6th of 13, 4l behind Heathyards Junior (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Markhesa 11-4fav (8-8) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 1f out, closed on winner near finish, just held, 2nd of 9, hd behind Miss Bootylishes (8-13) at Ffos Las 1m fll hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Burnbrake 6-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, not much room over 1f out, no impression, 10th of 14, 11l behind Ensnare (9-6) at Kempton 1m hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
