behind, driven over 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, one pace and no impression when edged left final furlong
tracked leaders, driven to challenge and every chance over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, lost 3rd final stride
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in touch on inside, switched left and headway to challenge over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish
tracked leader, driven to lead over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, kept on
behind, pushed along 5f out, ridden well over 1f out, never near leaders
close up on outside, driven over 3f out, soon ridden, lost place and weakened over 1f out
This looks a good handicap, one that should throw up winners, and our vote goes to LECEILE ahead of Almiqdaad, Last Three Minutes and Sweet Lightning. Our selection makes her seasonal reappearance following a good year in 2009, culminating in a narrow defeat off 87. Up 3lbs this she'll have to be at her best to see off a host of challengers, but the filly one first time out last year and her prominent style of racing will be suited to this track. She's taken to get the better of Almiqdaad, a horse who looks one to keep on the right side as the season progresses but our feeling is this track won't play to his strengths; he looks an out-and-out galloper who might just get caught flat footed when the tempo increases. Sweet Lightning is 5lbs better off for finishing just under two lengths behind Michael Jarvis' colt last time and has claims here, especially as he's won at Chester before. That was over a mile and a half though and on his first start of the season Michael Dods' horse is opposable, along with the interesting Last Three Minutes who makes his first start for Sir Michael Stoute. There's little doubt in our mind he's a well-handicapped horse but Ryan Moore will have to be at his best to weave a passage through late on and, like a few of these, he's more one to be keeping an eye on with the future in mind. Submariner won his maiden well but this is a tough race for one so inexperienced whilst his stablemate Cairnsmore has struggled since entering the handicap ranks. This is a super start to the card and we'll take Leceile as our selection.
Almiqdaad 11-8fav (9-0) Held up in touch, pushed along and headway over 4f out, chased winner 3f out, soon ridden, kept on final furlong, always held, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Kings Gambit (9-0) at Ripon 1m 2f stks (3) gd in Apr.
Cairnsmore 15-2 (9-5) Prominent, every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 14, 15l behind Dansili Dancer (9-3) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Mar.
Leceile (USA) 9-2fav (8-4) Led, hung left from over 1f out, strongly pressed and kept narrow advantage until not quicken and headed final 75 yards, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Nashmiah (9-5) at Goodwood 1m 2f flls Listed hcp 0-110 (1) gf in Aug.
Sweet Lightning 7-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, steady headway over 3f out, not much room over 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 20, 1 3/4l behind Almiqdaad (8-12) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.
Porgy 25-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, soon ridden, carried head high and no further progress, 9th of 15, 11l behind Alainmaar (9-10) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Apr.
Last Three Minutes (IRE) 15-8fav (8-13) Held up well in rear, still plenty to do 2f out, headway final 1f, never reached leaders, 6th of 10, 4l behind Fanjura (9-7) at Ascot 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) gd in Jul.
Submariner (USA) 11-8fav (9-12) Tracked leader, pushed along 4f out, ridden to lead approaching 2f out, in commad over 1f out, ran green and eased inside final furlong, won at Folkestone 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gf in Apr beating Widezain (8-7) by 8l, 4 ran.
Iron Out (USA) 66-1 (8-3) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance from 2f out, led narrowly 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Shavansky (8-13) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) fm in Apr.
