always prominent, keen hold, ridden to lead inside final furlong, all out
held up in rear, shaken up and headway approaching final furlong, never nearer
led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra
took keen hold in touch, lost place over 2f out
mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly closing stages, not reached winner
tracked leader, keen hold, driven to challenge over 2f out, weakening when not much room inside final furlong
held up, headway over 1f out, stayed on same pace, edged right closing stages
always behind
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
In a competitive handicap, Stoneacre Fred gets the vote ahead of Fulvio and Midmaar. The selection won his last start with quite a bit to spare as he idled when he hit the front yet still won by over a length. He looks up to defying a 5lb rise for that win and could go in again. Midmaar just held on to win at Kempton eight days ago but appears to be better over six furlongs so is taken on with that in mind, whilst course and distance winner Fulvio is always more likely to gain place money than actually get his head in front. Of the rest, Grand Assault is entitled to go well if reproducing the form of his last run, and as a relatively unexposed gelding he could be open to further improvement. In what is a tricky race then, we side with Stoneacre Fred to score again.
Hotchpotch (USA) 7-2fav (8-13) Pulled hard, chased leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, soon one pace, hampered near finish, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Super Frank (9-0) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Mulberry Lad (IRE) 13-2 (8-13) Chased leader, led over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 8, nk behind Cree (8-7) at Lingfield 6f hcap (6) pol.
Fulvio (USA) 8-1 (8-11) Chased leader, led over 4f out, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Harare (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcap (6) pol.
Grand Assault 12-1 (8-13) Prominent, led over 2f out, headed 1f out, not pace of winner, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Rowan Warning (9-0) at Kempton 1m hcap (6) pol.
Midmaar (IRE) 3-1fav (8-13) In touch, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on, all out, won at Kempton 6f banded stk (7) pol beating Burhaan (8-11) by a shd, 12 ran.
Stoneacre Fred (IRE) 11-4fav (8-12) In touch, went 2nd over 2f out, led on bit over 1f out, pushed out, won at Southwell 7f banded stk (7) fbs beating Astorygoeswithit (8-12) by 2l, 13 ran.
Detonate 7-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, towards rear, good headway over 1f out, ran on strongly, not reach winner, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Cool Tiger (9-2) at Kempton 6f banded stk (7) pol.
Danethorpe (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Behind, headway on inside approaching 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Stoneacre Fred (8-12) at Southwell 7f banded stk (7) fbs.
