chased leaders, ridden approaching 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up, headway well over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
prominent, weakened 2f out
held up mid-division, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
led early, chased leaders, regained lead 2f out, stayed on well
slowly in to stride, in rear, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong
held up and keen, ridden over 1f out, no impression
held up in touch weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, ridden and weakened over 1f out
soon led, headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, never dangerous
Nonrunner
Both JOIN UP and Party In The Park are creeping up the handicap ratings without winning, but they still remain the most likely here with the former preferred. Mark Brisbourne's gelding is just a pound higher than when second at Wolverhampton last time, gets on well with today's rider and has put together a really solid run of late. This slight drop back in trip isn't ideal but he's put forward anyway, in the hope they go a decent gallop which looks entirely possible. Party In The Park has put together a slightly worrying string of second placed finishes, and with a record of two wins from 32 starts some may rightly question his attitude. However, Jim Boyle's runner can usually be relied upon to run into a place and a similar story is likely here, although it'll take a brave soul to go in for the win. Cavalry Guard has an even worse wins-to-runs ratio than Party In The Park and is probably better over a furlong less and similar comments apply to Guildensterm who rarely races over this far. Very Well Red is a reasonably consistent if exposed sort, so with doubts about several of these it'd be no surprise were this one to grab a place. Greystoke Prince did well behind an improver when last running over a mile and could go well at a price, whilst Ejeed is at least relatively unexposed but has to find improvement from somewhere. Flying Gazebo is also lightly-raced but this one was beaten comfortably when last seen, Darfour ran well enough over hurdles last time but has never raced on artificial surfaces and doesn't look especially well treated, and Yakama is a 27-race maiden who looks very modest. This is a desperate finish to a competitive card but something has to win, so we'll take Join Up to land it.
Party In The Park 3-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Tamino (9-0) at Lingfield 7f Handicap (0-56) (4yo+) (6) pol.
Guildenstern (IRE) 5-1 (8-10) Held up in touch, one pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 5l behind Diapason (9-0) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Western Roots 100-1 (8-8) Led early, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 11, 8l behind Atacama Sunrise (8-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm stks 0-70 (6) pol in Dec.
Yakama (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Chased winner until ridden 2f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 19l behind Kipchak (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Join Up 2-1fav (8-5) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, switched right to challenge inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Chia (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Very Well Red 11-1 (8-13) In touch, headway to challenge over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on and every chance until no extra final furlong, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Camerooney (8-4) at Southwell 1m hcp (0-55) (6) fbs.
Binnion Bay (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Held up, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 7l behind Winning Show (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Flying Gazebo (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 21l behind Kames Park (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Greystoke Prince 15-2 (8-9) Held up, effort over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 5l behind Tamino (9-0) at Lingfield 7f Handicap (0-56) (4yo+) (6) pol.
Darfour 11-1 (8-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no impression, 6th of 10, 7l behind Clumber Place (8-4) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Sep.
Cavalry Guard (USA) 13-2 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden halfway, one pace final 2f, 3rd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Bold Rose (8-9) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-52 (6) in Dec.
Spent 50-1 (9-7) Always in rear, 7th of 8, 16l behind Steig (9-8) at Brighton 1m clm stks (6) gd in Jun.
Stark Contrast (USA) 16-1 (8-3) Tracked leaders, weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 14l behind Make Amends (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Ejeed (USA) 25-1 (9-4) Raced wide, held up, ridden and effort over 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 8l behind Erinjay (8-10) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
