held up, smooth headway 2f out, tracked leader well over 1f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, driven out
chased leaders, driven along 4f out, weakened 3f out, tailed off
held up in rear, ridden 2f out, edged left and stayed on inside final furlong
in touch, headway to 3rd over 3f out, ridden and hung left well over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
keen, tracked leader, led travelling well over 2f out, ridden and edged left well over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, stayed on
keen, led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
always behind, ridden and struggling 3f out
dwelt, soon chased leaders on inside, pushed along over 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Four of the leading protagonists make their handicap bows and although Hulcote Rose looks well treated on her first start in these ranks we opted for the more experienced DANIELLA DE BRUIJN with Babycakes also considered. Although raced almost exclusively in claimers towards the end of last season the selection can be considered well treated based on some of her better form. She is the only with a course and distance win to her name in this field so is one of the few with nothing to prove on this surface. Hulcote Rose was progressive as a juvenile and ended that campaign with a victory in a maiden beating home a rival who has since won a handicap off a mark of 68. Given that her own mark of 70 looks fair but she'll have to prove it at this track. Babycakes continued her progression on her first start as a three-year-old last time. There should be more to come but she is difficult to assess off this mark first time up in this medium. Roger Charlton's Thereafter should be better than she's shown and could improve now in these ranks while Crystal Rose should be competitive off her rating. A tricky girls only race to call with so many stepping out in a handicap for the first time but we go with course and distance form and Daniella De Bruijn.
Hulcote Rose (IRE) 10-11fav (9-0) Tracked leader, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Kempton 6f 2yo mdn fll (5) pol in Oct beating Merton Matriarch (9-0) by 1l, 9 ran.
Daniella de Bruijn (IRE) 5-4fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 9l behind Mary Helen (8-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo clm stks (6) pol in Oct.
Crystal Gale (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) Half reared start, soon in mid-division, headway over 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 10, 10l behind Layline (8-9) at Chepstow 1m 2yo mdn aut (6) gs in Sep.
Thereafter (USA) 16-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, outpaced over 2f out, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 4th of 8, 6l behind Shamir (9-3) at Lingfield 7f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Babycakes (IRE) 33-1 (8-10) Held up in rear, effort on inside over 2f out, no impression, 5th of 9, 9l behind Clairvoyance (8-10) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Green Community (USA) 17-2 (9-3) In touch, ridden over 3f out, beaten over 1f out, 7th of 14, 6l behind Our Boy Barrington (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
Ravens Rose 50-1 (8-8) Took keen hold, soon in touch, bumped 6f out, weakened well over 1f out, last of 10, 17l behind Totally Ours (9-5) at Kempton 1m 3yo fll hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Charpoy Cobra 12-1 (8-11) Behind, ridden over 1f out, hung left and virtually pulled up inside final furlong, 10th of 12, 13l behind Number One Guy (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Oct.
Mini Max 25-1 (9-3) Soon steadied towards rear, some headway and hung right over well over 1f out, no impression, 7th of 13, 9l behind Shelfah (9-2) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
