mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on
slowly into stride, keen, soon mid-division, headway over 2f out, not clear run, switched left over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, ran on to go 2nd close home
always behind
led, headed over 6f out, led again 3f out, ridden, headed over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
started slowly, towards rear, headway 3f out, soon ridden, weakening when not much room inside final furlong
always towards rear
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division, lost place, not much room over 5f out, soon behind
prominent, ridden, every chance over 1f out, bumped inside final furlong, soon weakened
towards rear, ridden, headway over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, behind, ridden, headway over 1f out, stayed on, never nearer
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
led over 6f out to 3f out, ridden over 1f out, bumped inside final furlong, soon weakened
A competitive handicap can go to Hail The Chief with Webbow, Corky and Jake The Snake others worth considering. Age and weight have failed to stop the Richard Hannon-trained veteran and he is our selection to defy a penalty here. He notched up back-to-back wins at Folkestone and Leicester on soft ground, is still potentially well handicapped and it is worth taking a chance that there may be more to come. Of the others in with a chance, Jake The Snake has an absence of over two years to overcome but he was the impressive winner of a Lingfield maiden on his debut and was clearly well-regarded by his stable. The in-form Jamie Spencer rides Webbow. The Tim-Easterby trained gelding makes his handicap debut having won a Southwell maiden last month. As ever there is a certain element of guesswork required as to how well he is treated but it may be worth taking a chance that he is better than this mark. However it could be Corky who gives our selection the most to do. He was a length behind Hail The Chief at Folkestone in March and is now eight-pound better off, however it is worth taking a chance that there is more to come from our choice and we will stick with Hail The Chief.
Hail The Chief 7-1 (8-6) Pushed along in rear, headway 2f out, led entering final furlong, ran on, won at Leicester 7f hcap (4) gs beating Commando Scott (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 16 ran.
Firesong 20-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, raced keenly in rear, staying on when not clear run inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 6l behind Pinpoint (9-6) at Salisbury 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Bolton Hall (IRE) 9-1 (8-4) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, no impression, 9th of 19, 5l behind Le Chiffre (8-7) at Pontefract 1m 3yo clm (5) gd in Oct.
Webbow (IRE) 4-1 (9-10) Made all, ridden over 2f out, kept on under pressure from 1f out, won at Southwell 7f mdn aut stk (6) fbs in Mar beating Contented (9-5) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Corky (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Close up far side, effort 3f out, led 2f out, headed and unable to quicken final 100 yards, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Hail The Chief (8-10) at Folkestone 7f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Mar.
Celtic Spa (IRE) 6-1 (8-11) Always towards rear, 7th of 12, 14l behind Villarrica (8-3) at Salisbury 1m 2f app hcp (5) gd in Sept.
Elkhorn 20-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 7th of 16, 2l behind Extremely Rare (9-0) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Sun Bian Evensfav (8-11) Mid-division, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 11, 17l behind Writ (9-0) at W'hampton 7f 3yo mdn aut (6) pol in Aug.
Fasylitator (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Held up, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 16, 2 1/2l behind Glad Big (9-1) at Kempton 1m hcap (4) pol.
Little Bob 9-2 (8-11) Chased leaders, led 3f out, ridden and hung left over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Parnassian (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) hvy in Nov.
Libre 14-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Merrymadcap (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Monash Lad (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Soon tracked leader, led over 3f out to over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 14, 8l behind Newnham (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn stk (5) pol in Jan.
Barataria 7-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened final 2f, 7th of 13, 23l behind Rohaani (9-0) at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd.
Final Promise 25-1 (8-13) Raced far side, chased leaders over 5f, 16th of 17, 24l behind Davenport (8-13) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
Ermine Grey 14-1 (8-4) Pulled hard, soon prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 7l behind Newnham (7-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Jake The Snake (IRE) 2-1jt-fav (9-0) Always prominent, led over 2f out, edged left and kept up to work inside final furlong, better for race, won at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn (D) pol in Dec '03 beating Secret Place (9-0) by 3l, 12 ran.
Luis Melendez (USA) 12-1 (8-13) Broke well, lost place after 2f, weakened well over 2f out, last of 10, 12l behind Fajr (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
