tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened last 100 yards
held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
in touch, led over 1f out, soon ridden, headed towards finish, rallied and just held post
tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened towards finish
held up rear division, effort over 1f out, never dangerous
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened towards finish
towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, led towards finish, just held on
always behind
slowly into stride, in rear, soon tracked leaders, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on towards finish
Sea Tide won a Carlisle maiden for Hugo Palmer last summer and ended up in a Class 2 handicap at Newmarket so this is a drop in class. WARM OASIS looked a difficult ride in his last two starts but managed to win a Newcastle maiden and looks on a fair mark for his handicap debut. He can continue on the upgrade and see off the challenge of hat-trick seeking Thaqaffa, who carries a 6lb penalty for completing a double on this track last week. Azam has struggled since landing a maiden over slightly shorter here in 2016 though has gradually dropped to his lowest-ever mark and was well supported at Wolverhampton last time. Topamichi was engaged in the 1.55 at Chelmsford yesterday.
First Up (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway 3 out, in 5th before last and no impression, 5th of 9, 20 1/4l behind Gran Maestro (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Sea Tide 7-1 (9-1) Dwelt towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never a factor, 7th of 11, 7l behind Neshmeya (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp fll (2) gd in Oct.
Warm Oasis 7-4 (9-5) Raced wide close up, dropped to rear halfway, headway in centre over 1f out, ridden to lead when hung badly left inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newcastle 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec beating Emerald Cross (9-9) by nk, 6 ran.
Ourmullion 6-1 (9-0) Led until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 13 3/4l behind Lexington Law (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Fanoulpifer 6-1 (9-4) Keen, tracked leaders, carried head high and chased clear winner over 1f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Every Chance (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f stks (6) pol in Jan.
Graceful James (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Held up in last pair, headway on inside over 2f out, switched right and ridden over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Wimpole Hall (9-6) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Thaqaffa (IRE) 11-2 (9-8) Tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, led well over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan beating Boychick (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Azam 3-1fav (9-8) Tracked leaders, challenged going well 2f out, led well over 1f out, edged left over 1f out, soon headed, hung left and weakening when hampered inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Jack Bear (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Bazooka (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up on outside, closed 3rd, not fluent 4th or 3 out, soon beaten, weakened 2 out, last of 5, 32 1/4l behind Limited Reserve (11-12) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Topamichi 11-2 (9-4) Went right start, raced wide early, headway to lead 8f out, headed inside final 2f, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, last of 5, 6 1/4l behind Epitaph (9-1) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Sufi 14-1 (9-5) Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, soon headed, faded inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 2 3/4l behind Deeley's Double (9-3) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
