held up in rear, switched right to outside over 1f out, good headway final furlong, finished well
chased leaders, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish but always held
close up, ridden to chase leading pair 2f out, outpaced inside final furlong
pressed leader, narrow lead 2f out, quickened over 1f out, soon clear, edged right towards finish
held up in rear, pushed along halfway, no headway final 2f
pulled hard early, tracked leading pair to 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced wide, held up, hanging right from halfway, very wide bend into straight, no chance after
narrow lead, headed 2f out, ridden over 1f out, chased winner to inside final furlong, weakened towards finish
Rasaman is selected here ahead of Telltime and Rashanak. The question is in these three-year-old handicaps is which horses are going to be the improvers this time around. The betting market might provide some clues. The handicapper has not been overly harsh on Rasaman following his narrow course and distance win and, given that he is expected to improve for that run and his trainer thinks something of him, looks set to go well. Telltime has good cruising speed and is improving and, furthermore, has got in at the right end of the weights and rates as a player today. Golden Desert put a disappointing soft-ground performance behind him when winning at Wolverhampton last time, although the form of the race is not strong. Rashanak comes here as a promising maiden winner, while Mr Loire is three pounds above a winning mark today but is not ruled out of a good run. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Rasaman.
Non Compliant 10-11fav (9-2) Dwelt, soon in touch, headway 2f out, driven and edged left over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 2l behind Palo Verde (9-5) at Lingfield 6f nov stk (4) pol in Oct.
Golden Desert (IRE) 4-5fav (9-3) Prominent, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at W'hampton 6f 2yo mdn (5) pol in Nov beating Napoleon Dynamite (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Roshanak (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Dwelt, headway to chase leaders after 2f, ridden to lead over 2f out, driven out, won at Leicester 6f 2yo mdn fll (5) gf in Aug beating Russian Rosie (9-0) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Rasaman (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Lingfield 6f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Apr beating Express Wish (9-3) by a nk, 10 ran.
Averticus 33-1 (8-2) Unruly stalls, held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, ran on, nearest finish, 6th of 18, 9l behind Sakhee's Secret (9-2) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Hythe Bay 33-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 5l behind Resplendent Alpha (9-4) at Lingfield 6f 2yo stk (4) pol in Oct.
Mr Loire 20-1 (9-1) Always behind, 8th of 9, 6l behind Supa Sal (9-1) at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Galaxy Stars 7-1 (8-11) Dwelt, soon chasing leaders, led well over 1f out, soon edged left, kept on well when challenged close home, won at Kempton 6f 2yo mdn auc (7) pol in Dec beating Darling Belinda (8-9) by a nk, 7 ran.
Telltime (IRE) 5-2fav (8-5) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, pushed clear final furlong, won at Lingfield 6f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Jan beating Madrigale (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
