held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
made all, ridden over 3f out, under pressure final furlong, kept on, held on close home
chased winner, ridden over 3f out, every chance inside final furlong, just held
held up, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, chased winner 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up mid-division, pushed along over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f
held up in rear, ridden and good headway over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, every chance inside last, no extra towards finish
Best Port, who has his ideal conditions here, has crept down to a healthy mark and is fancied to score his first win of the season in what looks a wide open contest. Clarinch Claymore was a game winner of a course and distance event last time, and is likely to go well along with Opportune, who has progressed well this year and would certainly come into the reckoning if able to reproduce his excellent second at Newmarket last time. Timing is on a potentially good handicap mark but has been a big disappointment this year, while Ten Carat appears to face a stiff task on his handicap debut. Course specialist Spa Lane can never be ruled out, but we're content to row on with Best Port, who has only had three races this year and is now three pounds lower than when winning a similar race at Redcar last season. He finished a creditable third over an inadequate mile and a half here last time, and should now be spot on to record his first win of 2003.