held up towards rear, smooth headway from 3f out, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, soon one pace
held up in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong
in rear, ridden 4f out, never a danger
hampered start, tracked leader 10f out, ridden 4f out, lost place 3f out
mid-division, ridden when bumped over 2f out, soon weakened
led, headed 5f out, ridden over 3f out, lost place approaching 2f out
held up towards rear, headway on outer from over 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, readily held rival
close up, ridden over 3f out, soon one pace
tracked leaders 10f out, ridden to lead 2f out, soon headed and one pace
steadied start, held up in rear, never troubled leaders
slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden halfway, behind when hit rail 5f out
slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden and headway from over 2f out, challenged winner inside final furlong, always held
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place over 3f out
raced wide in touch, led 5f out, til 2f out, weakened 1f out
went right start, chased leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, stayed on
This is quite a competitive handicap and narrow preference is for Magic Show, over Zalkani and Spritza. The selection is a lightly-raced colt and he was only beaten a head on his handicap debut at Yarmouth by Magdalene. He is still open to plenty of improvement and he looks the percentage call. Zalkani is an obvious danger as this course and distance winner was only narrowly beaten last time when a close third here behind Takes Tutu. He was returning from a break that day so should strip fitter, but he is fairly exposed and that is why we prefer the claims of Magic Show who could improve past him. Spritza won well last time at Hamilton and Michael Bell's filly is respected, but that was quite a weak race and she has more on her plate today. Blackmail ran respectably last time and he has place claims, but he is another that is thoroughly exposed, and we will side with Magic Show who looks to be on an upward curve.
Zalkani (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) Held up mid-division, headway, not clear run 2f out, effort on inside over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 11, shd behind dhtrs Takes Tutu (9-4) & Majehar (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Aug.
Sopran Gath (ITY) 14-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, headway 2f out, soon ridden, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 1l behind dhtrs Takes Tutu (9-4) & Majehar (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Aug.
Papeete (GER) 20-1 (9-9) In rear, effort and wide over 3f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 34l behind Dolzago (9-6) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
You Live And Learn 12-1 (9-6) Keen in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 14, 4l behind The Flying Cowboy (9-0) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Aug.
Blackmail (USA) 5-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden, headed over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 11, 3/4l behind dhtrs Takes Tutu (9-4) & Majehar (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Aug.
Ground Patrol 12-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, pulled hard, soon mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, 6th of 11, 2 1/2l behind dhtrs Takes Tutu (9-4) & Majehar (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Aug.
Magic Show 5-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders, pushed along over 3f out, led inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 12, hd behind Magdalene (9-4) at Yarmouth 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) gs in Aug.
Mystical Moon 20-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 9th of 10, 15l behind Western Point (8-5) at Yarmouth 1m 3f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Spritza (IRE) Evensfav (8-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 7f out, led on bit over 2f out, clear over 1f out, eased towards finish, won at Hamilton 1m 3f mdn 0-60 (6) gs in Aug beating Andorran (9-10) by 4l, 10 ran.
Lady Ambitious 10-1 (9-4) Held up, headway 5f out, led over 1f out, one pace when headed soon after, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Champagne Shadow (9-9) at Lingfield 1m 4f clm (5) pol in Jun.
Sterling Moll 80-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, raced in last place, ridden over 4f out, never dangerous, 5th of 7, 13l behind Atayeb (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn fll (5) pol in Aug.
War of The Roses (IRE) 7-1 (8-11) Mid-division, effort on wide outside over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 6th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Fantasy Crusader (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Aug.
Paula Lane 25-1 (9-0) Close up, ridden and weakened over 4f out, 10th of 13, 20l behind Simply The Guest (8-9) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (F4) fbs in Feb '05.
Nothing Is Forever (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) In touch, driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 15, 9l behind Alleviate (9-1) at Haydock 1m 6f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Featherlight 10-3 (8-7) Behind, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 8th of 14, 8l behind Raise The Goblet (8-10) at Kempton 1m 3f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Aug.
Top Seed (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Took keen hold, always behind, 10th of 11, 12l behind Broughtons Folly (9-6) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcap (5) pol in Jul.
