raced wide, chased leaders for 5f
held up in mid division, headway when not clear run of 2f out until squeezed through and ran on well inside final furlong, finished well
held up towards rear, staying on when hampered over 1f out, not recover
with leader, led halfway, headed over 1f out, no extra
in touch, ridden and chance 2f out, chased leader final furlong, one pace
held up towards rear, effort and switched left 2f out, kept on final furlong
held up in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, soon onepaced and no impression on leaders
chased leaders, hard ridden and weakened over 2f out, losing place when badly hampered over 1f out
towards rear and never dangerous
chased leaders for 5f
made most until halfway, losing place when hampered on rail over 1f out
behind and never able to challenge
never better than mid division
in rear, shaken up and kept on final furlong, never near to challenge
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, led approaching final furlong, soon headed, kept on same pace
behind, ridden and no impression on leaders final 2f
held up towards rear, staying on when badly hampered approaching final furlong, not recover
close up until weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, kept on final furlong
always in rear
held up in rear, ridden when hampered 2f out, soon beaten
with leaders until weakened over 1f out
A typically competitive renewal of this handicap with no fewer than 27 runners facing the starter including last year's winner Mystic Man, the consistent Thihn and recent Pontefract scorer St Petersburg but the vote goes to Craiova. The selection was not disgraced in the Lincoln on his return and should be spot on for this now, has ground conditions to suit, is feasibly well treated on the pick of last season's form and hails from a stable in form. The Barry Hills-trained colt is preferred to Mystic Man who is coming back to a fair mark having failed to trouble the judge since landing this 12 months ago. However, Kevin Ryan's gelding does not come here in the same form as last year and looks worth taking on. Thihn on the other hand comes here on the back of a win at Newmarket earlier in the week but a 4lb penalty leaves him with more to do and a bigger threat may come from St Petersburg who had Shot To Fame behind when winning at Pontefract. Alkaadhem has claims on his fine fifth in the Lincoln but the burden of 9st 9lb may be a stopper, while Jay Gee's Choice (sixth), Desert Opal (ninth) and El Coto (17th) all lock horns again from Doncaster. However, we prefer to side with Craiova, who looked in need of the run at Town Moor and will not be inconvenienced by any softening of the ground should the rain arrive.
