slowly away, driven forward to lead after 1f, hard ridden when strongly challenged over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra
held up in touch, headway over 2f out, soon under pressure, kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, hard driven to challenge over 2f out, stayed on strongly to lead well inside final furlong, ridden out
keen, tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, stayed on same pace closing stages
led 1f, remained prominent, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
THE BLUES MASTER stepped up to this trip in style at Kempton, giving the impression he would be even more effect over a stiffer track such as this, so he's handed the vote. Richard Hannon has very few runners here so the presence of Lester Kris, making his handicap debut over a much longer trip, is intriguing. Global Revival won a Leicester nursery in July and has returned in fine form on the all-weather, staying on strongly to score over 1m2f at Lingfield in February. But it's difficult to know what to make of the 15-length victory of Taxmeifyoucan at Southwell as his three rivals didn't act on the surface. He's been raised 9lb and faces a much stiffer task as does Baltic Eagle, a 7f performer in Norway who ran well enough when runner-up in a poor handicap over this trip at Wolverhampton when Spirit Of Rome, who is a couple of pounds out of the handicap, was behind.
The Blues Master (IRE) 4-9fav (8-7) In touch, looking for room over 2f out, headway between horses over 1f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on, won at Kempton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Jan beating Condamine (10-0) by 3l, 7 ran.
Lester Kris (IRE) 11-4 (9-5) With winner, slight lead after 2f until 3f out, soon lost 2nd, ridden and beaten inside final 2f, last of 3, 13 1/2l behind Devil's Bridge (9-5) at Newcastle 1m mdn stks (4) pol in Aug.
Global Revival (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) Tracked leader, ridden to lead entering final furlong, held on well, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Feb beating Mullarkey (9-0) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Baltic Eagle (GER) 16-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, edged left and chased winner final furlong, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Bessemer Lady (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Spirit Of Rome (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, never nearer, 3rd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Ladofash (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Mar.
Taxmeifyoucan (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Close up in 4th, pushed along and slightly outpaced 5f out, headway to chase leader 3f out, led 2f out, pushed clear entering final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Apr beating Alexander M (9-3) by 15l, 4 ran.
