led, driven clear over 3f out, hard ridden final furlong, headed post
held up in mid-division, never a factor
mid-division, headway 2f out, soon chasing leader, stayed on under pressure to lead post
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, never able to challenge
chased leaders, lost place over 2f out
tracked clear leader, ridden and weakened 2f out
soon outpaced, never a factor
chased leaders, ridden to challenge well over 1f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway under pressure over 1f out, nearest finish
held up in mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
behind, some late headway, never nearer
As the only one in this tight handicap with recent winning form SIGN OF THE CROSS is given the narrow verdict with Dancing Welcome and Spinning Ridge among the dangers. The late nature of the pick's win last time possibly makes him hard to assess from a handicapping point of view and with four extra pounds to carry he has every chance of a repeat. Dancing Welcome has a likeable profile but is up in the weights despite defeat last time and his Wolverhampton record leaves us a little cold. Spinning Ridge was unlucky not to score on his last run but again the handicapper has taken notice but at least he has won here in the past. Tevez returned well from a break last time to run into a place at this venue and based on a better display in a Newmarket handicap last season he is a live contender. Trip Switch bounced back to form last time when finding just one too good but with him also up in the handicap we'll chance that the assessor has underestimated Sign Of The Cross.
Spinning Ridge (IRE) 7-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, going well when not much room from over 2f out until switched right over 1f out, soon went 2nd, ran on, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Mr Hichens (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Grand Honour (IRE) 7-2 (9-4) Held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, ran on well final furlong, never nearer, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Woolston Ferry (9-1) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Unlimited 10-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden entering final furlong, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 5l behind Copperwood (8-11) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Tevez 16-1 (8-7) Awkward start, mid-division, ridden over 4f out, headway on inside over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Mr Hichens (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Dancing Welcome 13-2 (8-12) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, headway entering final furlong, stayed on well towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Bollywood Style (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
Izzi Mill (USA) 12-1 (9-10) Led, headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 12l behind Binthere Dunthat (8-8) at Wolverhampton 7f mdn fll (5) pol.
Trip Switch 16-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 11, shd behind Copperwood (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Sign of The Cross 9-1 (9-2) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, steadied back over 4f out, headway when carried head high over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, driven to lead post, won at Lingfield 7f hcp (0-55) (6) pol beating Top Flight Splash (8-9) by hd, 12 ran.
Quiet Mountain (IRE) 10-1 (8-5) Held up, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, never able to challenge, 6th of 10, 4l behind Young Gladiator (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Feb.
Our Day Will Come 12-1 (8-12) Raced wide, in touch, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out, last of 12, 18l behind Sign of The Cross (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp (0-55) (6) pol.
Lake Chini (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Dwelt, soon pushed along in rear, never a factor, 9th of 10, 18l behind Madison Belle (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Soul Murmur (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up and keen, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, last of 7, well behind My Mate Mal (8-9) at Southwell 1m 4f sell stks (6) fbs in Feb.
