chased leaders, effort on inside when not much room 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, held and lost 2nd last stride
chased leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
last to break, held up, not clear run 1f out, soon switched left, ran on well, went 2nd last stride, just held
led, headed over 2f out, led again over 1f out, headed 100 yards, weakened towards finish
chased leaders, switched left over 1f out, ran on to lead 100 yards out, held on
NonRunner
A nice prize has attracted a decent field. HARRY'S BAR landed a similar class handicap over the track and trip last month and looks certain to be thereabouts so just gets the nod. Silent Echo, who was just over a length behind, is 3lb better off so there's little between them while Straight Right has competed in tough company since completing a double in 2018. Soldier's Minute won a Class 3 handicap here in October and hasn't been beaten far in better company, including in a Lingfield Listed contest in November, but Junius Brutus has never won on the all-weather.
Harry's Bar 4-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, effort over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Kempton 6f hcp (2) pol in Dec beating Lethal Lunch (9-3) by 1l, 10 ran.
Junius Brutus (FR) 8-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Lomu (8-3) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Silent Echo 8-1 (9-1) Bumped start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on, went 3rd well inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Harry's Bar (8-12) at Kempton 6f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Soldier's Minute 7-2fav (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Reeves (8-6) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Straight Right (FR) 11-2 (9-2) Keen close up, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Above The Rest (9-3) at Newcastle 7f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Penarth Pier (IRE) 5-1 (9-8) Led until over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 3 3/4l behind Reasoned (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.