held up in touch, raced keenly, tracked leaders over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
behind, headway over 2f out, hard ridden to challenge over 1f out, ran on, no chance with winner
chased leaders, ridden and effort over 1f out, soon one pace
behind, headway and not clear run over 1f out, no danger after
held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, never nearer
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ridden out
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, weakened quickly over 2f out
held up, never dangerous
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, never on terms
A typical sprint handicap where a case can be made for quite a few of them, but the vote goes to RESPLENDENT ALPHA to get the better of Chjimes. The Paul Howling-trained selection has two course and distance wins to his name, having also scored here over the minimum trip, and three of his four career successes have come from higher marks than today¿s. He can be forgiven two poor efforts at Southwell in recent times, as he definitely acts better on the quicker surfaces here and at Kempton, where he put in two good efforts in defeat in December. Now back over this particular track and trip for the first time in 10 months, and with the stable firing, we give him the nod. Chjimes is another from a stable in good nick and he has also scored from higher marks on three occasions, though all of those were over 5f. Nonetheless, he loves it here, where he has also won twice over today's distance and he can go very close. Peter's Gift appears to need a slower surface and longer trip to be at her best, so we'll take her on, while Fazbee has long been on the downgrade and was beaten from this mark last time, so would be a bit of a surprise winner. Tejime is from a top yard and after just three starts merits plenty of respect, though he has to prove he will act on this surface after being tried at both Wolverhampton and Southwell so far. Rondeau goes well here but looks in need of a favour from the handicapper, while I Confess also loves it at Lingfield, but has never yet shown enough speed to win over as short as this. An interesting race where Resplendent Alpha can come good.
Tejime 4-7fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 12l behind Poet's Place (9-3) at Southwell 6f mdn stks (5) fbs in Dec.
Rondeau (GR) 4-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up and keen, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 1 1/2l behind Lord Fidelio (8-10) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Chjimes (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Towards rear, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Thoughtsofstardom (8-6) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Resplendent Alpha 12-1 (8-8) Held up, ridden and no impression over 2f out, 5th of 7, 16l behind Harlech Castle (9-3) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
I Confess 5-1 (9-1) Led, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 2 1/4l behind Lord Fidelio (8-10) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Secret Witness 17-2 (9-0) Awkward leaving stalls and squeezed out, in rear, ridden halfway, never a factor, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Ponting (8-5) at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs in Dec.
Peter's Gift (IRE) 40-1 (8-7) Mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 14l behind Mabait (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Fazbee (IRE) 9-1 (8-9) Held up, stayed on final furlong, took 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Onceaponatime (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Highland Harvest 20-1 (8-13) In touch, headway to chase leaders 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 6l behind Arteus (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
First Order 28-1 (8-6) Behind and soon outpaced, ridden and kept on from over 1f out, never nearer, 8th of 13, 8l behind Charles Parnell (8-9) at Southwell 6f hacp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Moral Duty (USA) 14-1 (9-10) Held up, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, hampered over 1f out, soon eased, last of 15, 29l behind Cadeaux Fax (8-12) at Chepstow 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Aug.
Suhayl Star (IRE) 25-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 9l behind Seek The Fair Land (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
