always towards rear
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on towards finish
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
in touch, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
held up behind, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra
tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
HOLD HANDS has yet to win but finally showed some improvement for a slide down the weights when going close at Kempton last time. He’s taken to go one better in this. A 4lb rise proved beyond Sanches here last time having won over track and trip earlier while both Betsalottie and Diamond Reflection won over 1m2f on their respective penultimate starts and both stay this far. Bergholt and Mrs Burbidge have been hurdling with the former preferred off his current mark back in this code.
New Street (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Raced wide, in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 16 1/2l behind Candesta (9-4) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Pour L'Amour (IRE) 11-4 (9-11) Held up, took keen hold, ridden and went 3rd from 2f out, no impression, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 9 1/4l behind With Hindsight (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Diamond Reflection (IRE) 5-2fav (9-8) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 1 1/4l behind Ravenhoe (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Betsalottie 4-1 (9-8) Towards rear, ridden and stayed on final furlong, never near leaders, 6th of 11, 5 1/2l behind Broughtons Story (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Relevant (IRE) 7-2 (9-10) Held up in touch, pushed along over 2f out, no impression when hung right over 1f out, plugged on late, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Rowlestonerendezvu (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Bergholt (IRE) 22-1 (11-5) Mid-division, tracked leaders before 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, never on terms, weakened from last, 6th of 11, 23 3/4l behind The Road Home (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Hold Hands 8-1 (9-6) Started slowly, behind, headway between horses and squeezed through over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on, always just held, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind General Brook (8-12) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Hallingham 25-1 (9-6) Chased leaders on outside, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 5l behind Iley Boy (8-12) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Sanches 6-1 (8-12) Held up, ridden and headway entering final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Sky Marshal (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Mrs Burbidge 4-1 (11-5) Towards rear, hampered 10th, chased winner from 3 out, no impression and just held on for 2nd close home, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Stoical Patient (10-8) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Garcon De Soleil 8-1 (8-13) Held up and behind, very wide on home turn, soon ridden, kept on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 6th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Sir Jamie (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Jan.
