slowly into stride, mid-division, headway to chase leaders 2f out, soon switched right, ridden and kept on same pace
slowly into stride, always in rear
held up in rear, ridden and some headway 3f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, ridden over 4f out, headway 2f out, kept on final furlong
raced wide, keen, in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
towards rear, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong
held up, ridden and weakened 3f out
pulled hard, tracked leader until 2f out
keen, close up, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
always towards rear
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace
close up, chased leader 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ridden out
soon led, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on
A poor handicap that is little better than a banded contest and with Jamie Spencer up, Fantasy Crusader is taken to continue some decent form, with Rotuma, Mad Maurice, Dagola and Cottingham others to consider. The selection was the winner of what in the context of this race was a competitive enough banded contest at Kempton last time out and connections immediately nominated a return to turf as a result. Although nothing special, he beat reliable banded yardstick Revolve that day and can be taken to reproduce his running and follow up here. Rotuma is very consistent but does not tend to win off this mark and a place probably awaits once again. Jamie Spencer is not booked for Mad Maurice, and so Barney Curley¿s gelding is passed over and it is unlikely that this will be a ¿going¿ day. Dagola as trip and ground to suit but has to overcome a poor run at Kempton last time, while Cottingham is up 2lb for a decent fibresand effort last time but will find it tougher here as a result. In summary, Fantasy Crusader is our selection here.
Rotuma (IRE) 9-2fav (8-13) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Trouble Mountain (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcap (6) sft in May.
Four Pleasure 2-1fav (8-12) Close up, hung right over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 11, 7l behind Dispol Verity (8-2) at Yarmouth 7f mdn clm (7) gd in Oct.
Blue Hedges 25-1 (8-6) Never better than mid-division, 12th of 18, 11l behind Hula Ballew (8-8) at Pontefract 1m hcap (5) gf in May.
Apache Point (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) In touch and keen, headway to lead 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 4th of 14, 8l behind Trouble Mountain (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcap (6) sft in May.
Fuel Cell (IRE) 50-1 (8-7) Took keen hold in mid-division, effort over 3f out, soon beaten, 16th of 18, 32l behind Exit Smiling (9-4) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gs in May.
Tata Naka 20-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 28l behind Trouble Mountain (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcap (6) sft in May.
El Rey Royale 66-1 (8-4) Never better than mid-division, 11th of 15, 5l behind Thorny Mandate (8-8) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcap (5) gf in May.
Mad Maurice 4-1jt-fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, keen, ridden, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 10, 21l behind Zoripp (8-9) at Southwell 1m 4f hcap (6) fbs in Apr.
Granary Girl 14-1 (9-0) Led, headed after 1f, stayed prominent,, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Brave Dane (9-2) at Kempton 1m 2f banded stk (7) pol in May.
Band of Gold 100-1 (8-2) Soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened, 9th of 14, 10l behind All That And More (8-10) at Bath 1m mdn stk (5) gd in Apr '05.
Eminence Gift 5-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, driven over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 17l behind Gramada (9-1) at Beverley 1m 2f fll hcp (5) gf in Apr.
At The Helm (IRE) 12-1 (8-2) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 3/4l behind Major Blade (7-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (6) pol in May.
Dagola (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Towards rear, some headway 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 10th of 14, 5l behind Opera Knight (8-11) at Kempton 1m 2f banded stk (7) pol in May.
Cottingham (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Held up, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed, no extra final half furlong, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Brave Dane (9-8) at Kempton 1m 2f banded stk (7) pol in May.
House Martin 16-1 (8-13) Held up, effort over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 21l behind Magic Warrior (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 1f banded stk (7) std in May.
Fantasy Crusader 14-1 (8-13) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, stayed on well to lead inside final furlong, pushed out, won at Kempton 1m 2f banded stk (7) pol in May beating Revolve (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
