in touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on towards finish
tracked leader, ridden inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
made all, pushed along over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, held on towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
in rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, kept on towards finish
NonRunner
Higher Power, winner of the Northumberland Plate in 2017, looks the pick of the two Fanshawe runners at the head of the handicap. Alfredo could go well at a price but there has been plenty of give in the ground for both of Darksideoftarnside’s two wins on Turf. Similar concerns surround the three-year-old Billy Ray while Alqamar will probably need some help from the handicapper to end his losing run. Baydar won his only previous start on Polytrack and was second over 2m at York before finishing sixth in the November Handicap at Doncaster but this can to go WATERSMEET, an uncomplicated sort who was thriving on the all-weather last winter and is looking well treated on his fourth in this year’s Northumberland Plate.
Higher Power 50-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 14, 18 1/2l behind Just In Time (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Lord George (IRE) 22-1 (9-12) Close up, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, not trouble leaders, 5th of 7, 12 1/2l behind Uber Cool (9-5) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Watersmeet 20-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, led inside final 3f until over 2f out, lost 2nd entering final 2f, weakened and lost 3rd inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 7 1/2l behind Kasperenko (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Alqamar 3-1 (9-10) Held up in last pair, headway on wide outside over 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, strong challenge inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 6, hd behind Speedo Boy (9-12) at Ascot 2m hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Baydar 12-1 (8-8) Always well placed, every chance over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 6th of 23, 5 1/4l behind Royal Line (9-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Billy Ray 8-1 (9-7) Raced keenly, held up in rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders over 2f out, 2nd and ridden 2f out, ridden to challenge 1f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (3) sft in Oct beating Volcanic Sky (9-0) by 1l, 7 ran.
Alfredo (IRE) 3-1 (10-2) In touch in rear, pushed along and headway entering final 2f, led over 1f out, ran on, won at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Potters Lady Jane (9-1) by 7l, 8 ran.
Darksideoftarnside (IRE) 11-4fav (10-0) Tracked leader until 10f out, close up, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 15 3/4l behind Alfredo (10-2) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
