prominent, led 6th to next, led again 3 out, soon headed, weakened approaching 2 out, beaten when unseated rider last
always behind, ridden 5th, tailed off when mistake 3 out
prominent, led 7th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching next
prominent, soon ridden, driven and lost touch from 4 out, tailef off and pulled up before 6th
always behind, hit 1st, ridden 7th, tailed off 3 out
close up, led approaching 2 out, hard driven and all out flat
close up, kept on from 3 out, took modest 3rd flat
behind, ridden 5th, well beaten when blundered last
not fluent, held up, mistake 4th, blundered 3 out and weakened
in touch, effort to chase leaders approaching 2 out, ran on flat
led and soon clear, mistake and headed 6th, weakened rapidly and pulled up before next
An interesting opener to the card sees a good mix of age ranges in a competitive handicap. Half The Pot looks on an excellent handicap mark to score for the first time since 2001 when he won four out of his six races. A tough and genuine sort the eight-year-old put up a near career-best performance when finishing fourth behind Mulligatawny at Ascot 17 days ago on ground that ran heavier than the official 'soft'. Running off the same mark here Richard Rowe's gelding can make his proven ability pay over this course and this distance in ground not guaranteed to suit a majority of the field. There are still numerous dangers with Time N Tide likely to be popular with punters. A winner last time out at Bangor he looks to have improved for his change of stable before his last run and no doubt has some improvement in him. However he has yet to prove himself on a really testing surface and there are slight question marks about his stamina. Misconduct looks well weighted here and has proven form on this ground. Although being a commendably consistent mare, she seems to have been difficult to train and can usually only manage a couple of wins a season. He normally needs an outing to bring him to peak fitness and for this reason is overlooked today. Orangerie persists with the blinkers today after putting in a below par effort with them fitted for the first time in early December. He has undoubted ability but is another who may struggle in this ground. Ambry is another who has ability and form on heavy ground but his jockey booking does not look positive here and usually goes better for stronger handling. Capriolo has the profile of an improving horse and will be suited by the ground though he seems the unlucky type who is penalised by the handicapper for running well in defeat.
