led 1f, tracked leaders, chased leader 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression
raced wide, close up, pushed along 2f out, kept on same pace
in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out
steadied start, held up in rear, wide and headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, edged left close home
towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led after 1f, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied close home
Richard Fahey has a good record in this but Amy Santiago finished behind third-placed Revision at Kempton last month. Prairie Falcon won a couple of nurseries on faster going last year but stablemate PHOENIX FIRE ended last season with an impressive victory in testing ground at Redcar. Further progress looks likely now handicapping and Michael Dods’ charge gets the vote. Project Black is another novice winner making his handicap debut while California Gem may prove best of the rest representing last year’s winning yard.
California Gem 4-1 (8-11) Went right and bumped rival start, mid-division, pushed along halfway and gradually faded, 10th of 14, 8 3/4l behind Tarhib (10-1) at Nottingham 5f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Prairie Falcon 13-2 (9-3) In rear, outpaced and pushed along over 3f out, some headway to chase leaders 1f out, no extra final furlong, 9th of 27, 5l behind Amichi (9-3) at Newmarket 6f stks (2) gs in Oct.
Project Black 9-4fav (9-11) Took keen hold, close up, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, drifted left inside final furlong, kept on but headed close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind First Of May (8-13) at Newcastle 6f stks (5) pol in Dec.
Wen Moon (IRE) 18-1 (9-9) Awkward start, towards rear, pushed along and repeatedly denied clear run well over 1f out, never able to challenge and eased inside last, 6th of 9, 7l behind Shandy Star (9-9) at Pontefract 6f (4) gs in Oct.
Revision 33-1 (9-1) Led, ridden along and headed 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Danger Alert (9-9) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Amy Santiago 12-1 (9-1) Held up off the pace in rear, pushed along when outpaced over 2f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge, 6th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Danger Alert (9-9) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Hour By Hour 66-1 (9-4) Mid-division, struggling 3f out, tailed off, last of 16, 14 1/4l behind Cold Case (9-4) at Redcar 6f lst (1) gs in Oct.
Phoenix Fire (IRE) 15-2 (9-7) Led field on far rail, made all, ridden and came clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Redcar 7f stks (5) hvy in Nov beating Time Traveller (9-7) by 6 1/2l, 9 ran.
