steadied start, good headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong
held up, keen, headway 5f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on
tracked leader, shaken up to lead 2f out, headed inside final furlong
tracked leaders, keen, carried right on bend 5f out, ridden and weakened 2f out
soon well behind
A competitive handicap here in spite of the relatively small field and although Pelham Crescent has been in great form just lately we are going to take him on with SIENA STAR. Stef Liddiard's veteran would win this comfortably if still able to reproduce some of his old ability, and while he might not be the force he once was, he remains very competitive from this sort of mark. This is his optimum trip and he relishes fast ground and this course, so we will take him to win again. Pelham Crescent is chasing a hat-trick and he has now gone up 10lbs for those two recent wins. He also loves it here and on fast ground, and he should certainly be very closely involved once again. Noah Jameel just failed to hang on over 11f last time and so this drop back a furlong looks a positive. He handles fast ground well and from a 3lbs higher mark looks sure to be thereabouts. My Shadow won over this trip at Kempton in February and was runner-up from a 1lb higher mark at Lingfield last time, giving him a major say on the face of it. Little else catches the eye and Siena Star is the one for us.
Pelham Crescent (IRE) 7-2 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, led entering final furlong, driven out, won at Bath 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Terminate (8-4) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
My Shadow 9-1 (8-9) Taken to post early, set steady pace, quicken 2f out, headed and kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Manshoor (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Apr.
Bramalea 11-2 (9-1) Raced keenly, tracked winner, ridden and effort 2f out, soon lost 2nd and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 10l behind Balnagore (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Apr.
Siena Star (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 2f out, every chance throughout final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 15, nk behind King Of Connacht (8-7) at Bath 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
Uig 33-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon lost place and beaten over 2f out, 10th of 14, 18l behind Ryedale Ovation (8-9) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Noah Jameel 3-1fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on under pressure, headed post, 2nd of 15, ns behind Sagunt (8-12) at Warwick 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Apr.
Lady Aspen (IRE) 22-1 (8-7) Held up, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 2l behind Rapid City (9-4) at Brighton 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Apr.
