keen, close up, ridden over 2f out, driven and stayed on towards finish
slowly into stride, raced wide, held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, never nearer
tracked leaders, chased leader over 2f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, stayed on
in rear, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous
slowly into stride, headway to lead after 2f, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, eased final furlong
led 2f, tracked leader after, led again over 3f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, eased towards finish
in rear, wide and headway over 6f out, ridden and weakened over 3f out
mid-division, ridden 3f out, no real impression
in rear, pushed along 4f out, ridden and headway 2f out, no impression from over 1f out
keen, mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway approaching 2f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, stayed on
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
slowly into stride, always in rear
Nothing leaps off the page in this competitive handicap and the most tentative of nominations goes to recent winner CARLTON SCROOP with Vanquisher and Spume counted as dangers. Jonathon Jay's gelding now has three all-weather wins to his name after a success last time at Kempton. Whilst that win came over ten furlongs, he shapes as if ready for another crack at two miles and is fancied to defy a 5lb rise in the weights. Blinkers are tried for the first time on Mulaazem, Force Tradition and Starstruck Peter and improvement is probably needed from each. Play Master has been off the track for a long time but it would be no surprise to see this decent dual performer run well, whilst Shayera, Ten Spot and Spume all need to step up on recent outings. Sir Liam continues to threaten to win but is not the most reliable, so a bigger danger could be the consistent Vanquisher who has gone close recently in his quest for a second career win. A tough, and unlikely to be memorable contest, and we will plump for Carlton Scroop.
Mulaazem 14-1 (8-5) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leader 7f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 7th of 11, 6l behind Lapina (8-7) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Carlton Scroop (FR) 10-3fav (9-2) Led, headed after 1f, stayed prominent, led again 1f out, pushed out, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-50 (6) pol beating Prince of Medina (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Spume (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Blue Hills (11-2) at Southwell 1m 6f amt hcp (6) fbs.
Sir Liam (USA) 7-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, under pressure over 2f out, kept on well, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Ben Bacchus (8-6) at Kempton 1m 4f app hcp 0-70 (6) pol.
Play Master (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Bumped start, held up, smooth headway 2f out, squeezed through over 1f out, hung right and hard ridden, edged left final furlong, kept on, 4th of 17, 1l behind Terminate (11-3) at Warwick 1m 3f amt hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Oct '07.
Barodine 13-2 (8-12) In touch, hard ridden 2f out, soon one pace, no impression on leaders, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Rapid City (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 4f sll (6) pol.
Starstruck Peter (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) With leader, led 6f out, ridden when headed approaching 2f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Wizard Looking (11-7) at W'hampton 1m 4f amt hcp (6) pol in May.
Shayera 7-1 (8-12) Held up last, ridden over 2f out, kept on well final furlong, not troubled leaders, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Celtic Gold (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stk (5) pol.
Magic Kahyasi (IRE) (8-12) 7th of 8, more than 7l behind Salsalava (8-8) at Marseille-Vivaux 1m 3f stk hvy in Oct '07.
Huck Finn (NZ) 66-1 (9-2) Chased leaders in 4th, pushed along halfway, dropped to last over 2f out, plugged on final furlong, 8th of 10, 6l behind Chalice Welcome (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol.
Ocean Pride (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Raced wide, mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden and no impression after, 8th of 13, 6l behind Northern Dune (8-11) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Dec.
Vanquisher (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (8-12) Held up, headway over 3f out, driven to challenge and every chance approaching final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Market Watcher (8-11) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Force Tradition (IRE) 33-1 (8-8) Prominent, reminders over 5f, weakened over 2f, 4th of 6, 16l behind La Estrella (9-10) at Southwell 1m 4f clm (6) fbs.
Ten Spot (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Steadied start, held up, ridden 3f out, never on terms, 6th of 10, 15l behind Ridgeway Jazz (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-50 (6) pol.
