tracked leader far side, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
led far side, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear stands side, chased along halfway, never a factor
led stands side, headed over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
towards rear stands side, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
in touch stands side, led group and overall leader over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
dwelt, soon in touch stands side, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
dwelt, held up stands side, pushed along halfway, some late headway, never near to challenge
dwelt, chasing leaders far side, effort over 2f out, soon beaten
chased leaders stands side, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final fulong, kept on
chased leaders to halfway stands side
cahsed leaders stands side, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
tracked leader far side, led group over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
chased leaders to halfway stands side
dwelt, soon chasing leaders stands side, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
Emerald Lodge, Grigorovitch and Katie Boo are three against the field in this handicap and the vote is given to Emerald Lodge. The selection looks to be going the right way and he won with a bit in hand last time when scoring at Lingfield. The return to the minimum trip will not be a problem, and although he is not ideally drawn in stall 1 he should take plenty of beating. Grigorovitch put up a fair effort when fifth behind Royal Orissa at Kempton last time, but this colt from the Barry Hills yard does not look the most straightforward and for that reason we will take him on. Katie Boo won well when last seen out when beating Vondova and this filly has also got form over this course and distance. If she is ready on her first outing of the new season then she will not be far away at the finish. Wise Wager has got the beating of Katie Boo on a run here last season and on the revised terms there will be little between them at the finish today, so she is another to consider. However, for the winner we return to the progressive Emerald Lodge.
Mimi Mouse 25-1 Hampered soon after start, behind, never troubled leaders, 8th of 12, 9l behind Prince Charming at Ayr 5f 2yo lst stk (A1) sft in Sept.
Emerald Lodge 11-8fav Made all, shaken up approaching 1f out, ridden out, won at Lingfield 6f 2yo stk (C2) pol in Oct beating Middle Earth by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Witchry 5-1 Pressed leader, until weakened over 1f out, eased when beaten final furlong, 9th of 14, 15l behind Royal Orissa at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp gs in Mar.
Katie Boo (IRE) 7-1 Made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Chester 6f 2yo fll (B) gd in Aug beating Vondova by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Westbrook Blue 10-1 Raced centre, prominent, hampered inside 1f, soon chasing leaders, headway over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Gone'n'dunnett at Yarmouth 5f hcp gs.
Harrys House 8-1 Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 15l behind Paris Bell at Catterick 6f 2yo hcp 0-85 (D2) sft in Nov.
Grigorovitch (IRE) 8-1 Pulled hard, held up, switched to race on far side rails, switched out 2f out, kept on final furlong but never a danger, 5th of 14, 6l behind Royal Orissa at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp gs in Mar.
Bold Cheverak 9-2jt-fav Held up in rear, squeezed through over 2f out, soon ridden and no impression, 8th of 12, 4l behind Guildenstern at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp pol.
