in touch, ridden along over 6f, driven 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up behind leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, kept on gamely final furlong
led, ridden along 3f out, headed 2f out, soon beaten
held up, headway over 5f, effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong
started slowly and behind, never a factor
held up behind leaders, effort when not much room 2f out, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, driven to challenge and every chance entering final furlong, no extra close home
never better than mid-division
An open look to this heat on paper but on the track TRIP THE LIGHT is just preferred to Drawn Gold, while Gamesters Lady is respected. Fast ground and this trip or beyond are spot on for Trip The Light, who's trainer Richard Fahey is in red hot form at the moment. There were excuses for the selection when his saddled slipped at Doncaster on his reappearance and hopefully he will still have come on for that run. He acts well in the visor that is applied again today and he'll do for this judge. Drawn Gold represents handicap legend Reg Hollinshead, but the trainer's record here is 0-15 in the past five seasons, which doesn't inspire confidence. Even so, the gelding performed with plenty of credit last time and is respected. Gamesters Lady has conditions to suit, though she has not won on turf for four years. Nonetheless she is on a very handy mark and could go close. Ovthenight is just 2lbs higher than his last win, which came 11 months ago, and with the yard among the winners in recent days you couldn't rule him out with total confidence, though with nothing else making appeal we'll take Trip The Light to score.
Ovthenight (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Close up on inner, pushed along from 4f out, lost place over 3f out, weakened after, 11th of 12, 14l behind War of The Roses (9-12) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Sep.
Trip The Light 11-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, one pace, 7th of 18, 7l behind Monfils Monfils (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 4f app hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (5) gf in Mar.
Rain And Shade 66-1 (8-12) In touch, led over 3f out, headed 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 16, 10l behind Sirvino (9-0) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Drawn Gold 8-1 (9-3) Soon in mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Star Choice (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Mar.
Gamesters Lady 14-1 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened when hung left over 1f out, 6th of 7, 11l behind Blockley (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Samizdat (FR) 66-1 (8-9) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, led over 7f out, headed over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened, last of 10, 30l behind Inchnadamph (9-11) at Catterick 2m hcap (4) sft in Jul '07.
Titinius (IRE) 16-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 16, 5l behind Sirvino (9-0) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Saluscraggie 20-1 (9-4) Dwelt, always behind, 12th of 14, 20l behind Sir Sandicliffe (9-2) at Catterick 1m 6f hcap (6) gs in Oct.
Treetops Hotel (IRE) 100-1 (8-7) Held up, effort over 3f out, behind when hampered over 2f out, never dangerous, 15th of 18, 28l behind Monfils Monfils (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 4f app hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (5) gf in Mar.
