tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out
slowly into stride, in rear headway over 4f out, ridden and weakened 3f out
held up in touch, progress over 4f out, ridden to lead 2f out, driven out
raced wide tracked leaders, went 2nd 7f out, ridden and weakened 2f out
held up, headway 4f out, went 5th 3f out, ridden to chase leading pair over 1f out, not quicken final furlong
in touch, headway to press winner 2f out, soon every chance, unable to quicken inside final furlong
tracked leaders, shuffled to rear by weakening leader, ridden 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on
held up in rear, never a factor
slowly away, well in rear, plenty to do 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on to go 3rd close home, not reached leaders
led, headed 8f out, weakened quickly, tailed off, virtually pulled up final 3f
raced wide tracked leader, led 8f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened
towards rear, headway to mid-division 6f out, ridden 4f out, outpaced 2f out, driven and kept on final furlong
slowly into stride, in rear, good headway on inside 3f out, effort over 1f out, kept on one pace
in touch, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out
These longer distance handicaps traditionally don't take much winning so we take a real chance on giving the potentially well in QUARRYMOUNT the vote ahead of Poppy Gregg and Sir Sandicliffe. Although it has been an absolute age since we last saw the pick racing without obstacles to jump he was racing off marks a lot higher than he carries here during those flat performances. He's obviously had his problems but should be fitter for a spin over jumps and he's also won his only all-weather start. Quarrymount is a chancy selection so all those not wanting to jump off the same bridge Poppy Gregg might be a safer play. She looks bound to give her running again after two silver medal placing on two runs back from a break and she has improved in both of those so could progress again. Sir Sandicliffe is also given a chance after winning his penultimate start and he also ran well from a revised mark last time. He's up in the weights again despite that defeat but in such a weak ontest he looks a leading player. Isle De Maurice also makes the list after victory last time out while Cossack Prince is interesting as he's on a progressive run of form but often in these races it's worth taking a big risk and we do so with Quarrymount.
Quarrymount 3-1 (8-12) Held up, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and one pace final 2f, 5th of 8, 11l behind Winged d'Argent (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 6f hcp (42) sft in Oct '04.
Follow The Dream 11-4fav (9-11) Held up, outpaced 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 8l behind Kristallo (9-6) at Kempton 2m hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Coda Agency 10-1 (9-12) Held up in mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 5l behind Prince Charlemagne (10-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Cossack Prince 7-2 (9-6) Led, soon clear, headed over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Hurakan (9-0) at Kempton 1m 4f clm stks (6) pol.
Isle de Maurice 11-4fav (9-4) Held up, pushed along over 4f out, ran wide into straight 2f out, headway soon after, led 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 2m Selling Handicap (0-60) (4yo+) (6) pol beating Poppy Gregg (8-4) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Happy Fleet 25-1 (9-1) Dwelt, held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous, 6th of 10, 9l behind Peace Corps (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol.
Purely By Chance 13-2 (9-5) Chased leader, driven along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 14, 6l behind Prince Charlemagne (10-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Sir Sandicliffe (IRE) 11-2 (8-8) Held up, behind, ridden, headway well over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, never troubled leaders, 5th of 10, 4l behind Kristallo (9-6) at Kempton 2m hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Poppy Gregg 14-1 (8-6) Behind, good headway on outside 4f out, chased leaders 2f out, chased winner and every chance inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 13, hd behind Delorain (8-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Sweet Seville (FR) 16-1 (9-2) Lad unti 6f out, chased leader until over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 7l behind Two Oclock John (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 5f mdn stks (5) pol.
Royal Premier (IRE) 50-1 (8-13) Towards rear, reminders 8f out, headway over 5f out, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out, last of 10, 23l behind Winning Show (9-0) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Golden Alchemist 17-2 (8-1) In rear, ridden from over 3f out, stayed on, 6th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Princess Flame (8-9) at Newbury 1m 3f app hcp (5) gf in Jun '08.
Watch Out 16-1 (8-12) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 5f out, hard ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 13, 9l behind He's Cool (9-1) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Try Cat 50-1 (8-12) Raced in mid-division, struggling 3f out, behind after, 8th of 11, 7l behind Freedom Fire (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Jan.
