prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway 3 out, led approaching 2 out, clear when not fluent last, pushed out comfortably
held up, hampered and unseated rider 5th
held up, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
chased leader until brought down 5th
led to fell 5th
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out
always behind, no impression
mid-division, headway and chased leaders fourth, left in lead 5th, headed approaching 2 out, kept on one pace
towards rear, headway after 5th, ridden and stayed on pace after 3 out
prominent, lost place approaching 5th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
in touch, hampered and unseated rider 5th
mid-division, badly hampered and unseated rider 5th
in touch, ridden and chased leaders after 3 out, weakened 2 out
towards rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on one pace after
towards rear, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace
Plenty of guesswork here but SAFARI JOURNEY has an intriguing profile and is narrowly preferred to stablemate Castellina, Dan Tucker and Wise Owl. The selection has the benefit of Rhys Flint in the saddle and although he doesn't look thrown in on this mark of 104 for this handicap debut it certainly looks a workable mark. He was last seen in November when not beaten far behind (the now 140-rated) Wendel and the handicapper may have underestimated him. Assuming he handles these quicker conditions then he may prove hard to beat. Stablemate Castellina also tries handicaps for the first time and is another French recruit. He is tongue-tied for the first time today and is one to watch in the betting. Aintnonancy drops in trip which may see improvement, Weststern ran well in defeat last time when not beaten by much by stablemate Lepido and with tougher handling in the finish today he must go close, whilst Heroes has the cheekpieces back on and may improve for this better ground. Dreams Jewel has a 4lb higher mark to race off following an Exeter win, Wise Owl is starting to look dangerously well-handicapped, whilst Wise Men Say rates a big danger if reproducing his recent run behind subsequent Fred Winter winner Silk Affair. A tough race to finish with but preference is for Safari Journey.
High Standard (NZ) 12-1 (11-7) Chased leader to approaching 6th, soon ridden and outpaced, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, last of 5, 24l behind Prairie Spirit (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) fm.
Safari Journey (USA) 9-2 (11-0) In touch, headway 4 out, chased leader 3 out, soon faded, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Wendel (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov.
John Charles (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 5th, ridden 2 out, fading when headed approaching last, 4th of 13, 6l behind King Gabriel (10-5) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gs in Nov.
Ready To Crown (USA) 16-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along 8th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 15, 22l behind Gouranga (10-6) at Warwick 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Wise Men Say (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Led, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 16, 9l behind Silk Affair (10-8) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
Dan Tucker 7-2 (10-13) In touch, headway to lead 4 out, clear after next, easily, won at Plumpton 2m hdl 0-90 (5) gd beating Belanak (10-13) by 9l, 11 ran.
Wise Owl 15-2 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 16, 11l behind Acapulco Bay (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Turbo Shandy 20-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 13, 20l behind Nearby (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Allez Frank (GER) 25-1 (10-1) Prominent and raced wide, hit 4th, led 5th, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, weakened, 9th of 13, well behind Olympian (11-0) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Dreams Jewel 15-8fav (11-2) Held up, hit 3rd, headway next, led approaching 2 out, soon hard pressed, not fluent last, all out, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf beating Tamrai Dancer (10-5) by hd, 9 ran.
Mix N Match 16-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing leaders, one pace, 6th of 15, 12l behind Pontop (10-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
Royal Prodigy (USA) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders in 3rd, driven along from 8th, dropped to 4th and ridden 3 out, kept on to take 3rd flat, no impression on 1st 2, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Airedale Lad (10-8) at Plumpton 2m 5f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
Just Mossie 14-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, mistake and ridden 5th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Dan Tucker (10-13) at Plumpton 2m hdl 0-90 (5) gd, 11 ran.
Weststern (GER) 7-1 (9-11) Held up, good headway after 3 out, ridden 2 out, switched left final 50 yards, ran on, just failed, 2nd of 18, nk behind Lepido (11-2) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
Aintnonancy 14-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, ridden and outpaced 3 out, rallied next, kept on, 3rd of 17, 20l behind McQueen (11-3) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gf in Jul.
Kenwyn 12-1 (10-13) Never better than mid-division, 11th of 16, 32l behind Beths Choice (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f sell hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gf in Sep '07.
Sally Army 100-1 (10-5) In touch, ridden 8th, weakened next, 6th of 13, well behind Caoba (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gd.
Heroes 33-1 (11-0) Never a factor, 7th of 14, 42l behind Bella Haze (10-3) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Castellina 16-1 (10-7) Held up, outpaced 3 out, ridden and short lived effort 2 out, 6th of 10, 47l behind Proper (11-7) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
