behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on towards finish
rear division, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, just held near finish
tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, just held on
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened towards finish
dwelt, towards rear, pushed along 2f out, never dangerous
This looks quite trappy but FLOWERS ON VENUS was far from disgraced on his first start for Tom Dascombe when a respectable fifth of twelve behind the useful Dougan in a Class 3 sprint at Wolverhampton last October. There is a concern that he hasn't been seen since but a repeat of that performance would make him tough to beat. Ticks The Boxes pretty much lives up to his name and should be in the shake-up on the back of a good runner-up effort at Newcastle last time. He wins in his turn. Free Zone looks best of the Carter pair with Adam Kirby on board and this is his grade, whilst Sophisticated Heir, a stable companion of Ticks The Boxes, is another who commands a level of respect along with Gramercy, only seen twice in the last 16 months.
Sophisticated Heir (IRE) 2-1fav (10-0) Slow into stride towards rear, headway halfway, switched right 2f out, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Bring On A Spinner (9-8) at Southwell 6f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Flexible Flyer 6-1 (9-2) Slowly away in rear, ridden and headway on inner over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Monumental Man (9-4) at Lingfield 6f stks (6) pol in Jan.
Flowers On Venus (IRE) 3-1jfav (8-13) Chased leaders, hung left and not quicken over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Dougan (9-2) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Ticks The Boxes (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, well held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Safe Voyage (9-7) at Newcastle 7f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Corporal Maddox 25-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden 2f out, not trouble leaders, 7th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Gold Flash (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f stks (6) pol in Jan.
Free Zone 15-8fav (9-1) Raced wide tracked winner 4f out, ridden 2f out, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Monumental Man (9-4) at Lingfield 6f stks (6) pol in Jan.
Balliol 12-1 (9-0) Slowly away, in rear, ridden halfway, never near leaders, 6th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Robbian (8-7) at Catterick 5f hcp (6) sft in Oct.
Gramercy (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) In touch, headway 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 3 3/4l behind Threebagsue (8-11) at Chelmsford City 1m stks (6) pol in Jan.
Seek The Fair Land 8-1 (9-3) Raced wide, in touch, wide on bend halfway, wide on bend again and struggling in rear 3f out, hung badly right and plugged on final furlong, never involved, 6th of 8, 10 1/4l behind Believe It (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Aqua Libre 6-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, no impression, 7th of 8, 10 3/4l behind Threebagsue (8-11) at Chelmsford City 1m stks (6) pol in Jan.
