led, ridden 2 lengths clear over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
keen, tracked leaders, pushed along to chase leader 2f out, edged right and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish
dwelt in rear, pushed along 2f out, not trouble leaders
raced wide, close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out
towards rear, pushed along and headway entering final furlong, nearest finish
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, wide into straight and plenty to do 2f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, quickened to lead inside final furlong, ran on
dwelt in touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong
keen, tracked leader until ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
A competitive enough handicap for the grade with most having some sort of chance. Pulsating has won three times here but was beaten in a Class 7 event last time. Billyoakes was a close-up fifth at Lingfield last Sunday having beaten STRICTLY CARTER under a length at the same track 11 days earlier but the runner-up is now a couple of pounds better off and may turn the tables. Last-time winners Herm and Jack Blane also enter calculations, though the latter is very closely matched with French on the form book. Spin Top and The Hooded Claw may be best of the rest.
Billyoakes (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 1 3/4l behind Gold Club (9-7) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
French 5-1 (9-5) Prominent, hung left and led over 1f out, soon headed, kept on inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Jack Blane (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Spin Top 4-1 (9-3) Slow into stride, towards rear, ridden 2f out, never nearer, 7th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Hamish Mcgonagain (9-7) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Strictly Carter 4-1 (9-4) Close up, switched right over 1f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Billyoakes (9-5) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Jack Blane 9-4 (9-0) Held up rear of mid-division, headway to lead over 1f out, ridden out, won at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec beating Snow Excuse (8-7) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Charlie's Dreamer 25-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 6th of 12, 10 3/4l behind Spun Gold (9-3) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Pulsating (IRE) 5-4fav (9-13) Left gates awkwardly, in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Black Truffle (9-4) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (7) pol in Dec.
The Hooded Claw (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Held up in rear until ridden and kept on inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 5th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Hisar (9-5) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Stopdworldnletmeof 7-1 (8-7) Chased leaders 3f, 9th of 12, 9l behind Passionatta (8-7) at Chepstow 5f hcp (6) gs in Aug.
Herm (IRE) 11-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, led inside final furlong, held on well, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec beating Prince Jai (9-7) by 3/4l, 9 ran.