Verdict

George Baker's Mile High Lad has run to a consistent level of form in maidens and he has to be respected on his handicap debut but looks to have plenty of weight for what he has achieved, a comment that also applies to Derringbay, and it is hard to get away from FANTASTIC FRED. Jamie Osborne's gelding has shown improved form since sent handicapping, winning his last two starts, and he is taken to defy the 7lb penalty for the latest of those successes here. The John Weymes-trained Miss Cracklinrosie seems to be fairly well treated for her first start in a handicap having run to a fair level of form in auction maidens in her last two starts. Mark Johnston's Green Passion is another that races in a handicap for the first time today and he has to be considered but Fantastic Fred has an obvious chance and he gets the vote.

Formwatch

Mile High Lad (USA) 9-4 (9-3) Always 3rd, ridden over 2f out, outpaced over 1f out, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Lord Chancellor (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Jan.

Green Passion (USA) 4-1 (9-3) Tracked winner, pressed winner over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, keeping on when short of room and snatched up well inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Signella (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Jan.

Forty Thirty (IRE) 28-1 (9-3) Pulled hard, in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 13, 4l behind Orbitor (9-3) at Great Leighs 1m 2f 2yo mdn (4) pol in Oct.

Derringbay (IRE) 66-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, effort on inside over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Open Sesame (9-3) at Great Leighs 1m 1f 3yo mdn aut (6) pol in Jan.

Fantastic Fred (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Steadied start, held up, not clear run over 2f out, headway when not clear run over 1f out, switched right to centre of track, ran on to lead close home, won at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Jan beating Turn To Dreams (8-13) by 1/2l, 8.

Nimmy's Special 7-1 (9-5) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, not clear run and switched right, headway over 1f out, stayed on, not troubled leaders, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Hold The Bucks (9-6) at W'hampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp (6) pol in Dec.

Miss Cracklinrosie 2-1fav (8-7) Led, headed entering final furlong, soon eased when beat, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Goodison Glory (9-1) at Catterick 7f 2yo mdn auc (6) hvy in Nov.