led at steady pace, quickened over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, well in touch, smooth headway over 2f out, led 1f out, ran on well
tracked leader, raced keenly, led over 2f out, under pressure and headed 1f out, no extra
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, every chance 1f out, not pace of winner
steadied start, held up in rear, headway over 3f out, soon driven to challenge, stayed on same pace final furlong
held up towards rear, under pressure over 2f out, soon no impression
Not a bad handicap to commence proceedings and Competitor gets the vote ahead of Kings Topic and Bahhmirage. The selection has to give weight away all around but can do so on the evidence of his latest success, which came over course and distance in a seller. Yes, this is more competitive, but John Akehurst has his yard going well and the seven-year-old won very nicely and looks capable of stepping back into handicap company with success from a nice pitch. Bahhmirage will understandably be popular after racking up a hat-trick over similar trips, but his three runs here have all proved abortive and an 8lb rise will make this pretty tough to make it four. Kings Topic is Seb Sanders' mount here and remains on a competitive mark based on his recent second here over c&d to Siena Star. He should not be far away. Blue Eyed Eloise was running on well in defeat over 9f last time so this step up in trip could see her go close, and she looks best of the rest, but Competitor is taken to score.
Competitor 5-1 (8-9) Keen, led 1f, tracked leader after, led again over 2f out, ridden clear final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2f sll (6) pol in Mar beating Prince Charlemagne (8-12) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Blue Eyed Eloise 3-1 (9-1) Held up, headway over 2f out, switched right well over 1f out, ran on well towards finish, 4th of 7, 1l behind King's Ransom (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Wheelavit (IRE) 9-2 (8-8) Mid-division, ridden to track leader after 4f, ridden and lost 2nd over 2f out, stayed on one pace, 5th of 7, 6l behind The Carlton Cannes (9-6) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Kings Topic (USA) 4-1 (9-2) Held up, good headway over 2f out to track leading pair, soon ridden, joined winner and every chance final furlong, driven and held near finish, 2nd of 6, hd behind Siena Star (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Binnion Bay (IRE) 9-2 (8-4) Slowly into stride, keen, soon in touch, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, driven and ran on towards finish, 4th of 7, 3l behind Millfield (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
Mtoto Girl 40-1 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 13, 18l behind Straight Face (9-6) at Kempton 7f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Mar.
Bowl of Cherries 10-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Susie May (9-2) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Bahhmirage (IRE) 11-1 (9-6) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, soon hard ridden, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at W'hampton 1m 1f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Mar beating High Five Society (9-0) by a nk, 13 ran.
