held up towards rear, closed on outside before 3rd, lost place 2 out
reluctant to jump off and behind, headway on outside 4th, weakened after 2 out
prominent, ridden after 2 out, weakening when mistake last
held up rear of mid-division, mistake 5th, weakened after 2 out
took keen hold, led until after 1st, prominent, jumped left and not fluent 2nd, weakened after 2 out
held up in mid-division, no impression 2 out
mid-division, headway 2 out, switched right and 3rd before last, stayed on, led towards finish, won going away
prominent, ridden and weakened before last
towards rear, slow 3 out, well behind 2 out
in touch in mid-division, closed 2 out, led before last, edged left flat, headed towards finish, no extra
chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, held before last, stayed on same pace
in rear, mistake 3rd, ridden 3 out, stayed on before last, never involved
led after 1st, headed before last, carried left and every chance flat, no impression on winner towards finish
NonRunner
The versatile Ashington came make his presence felt in a race like this but Fransham does best on flat tracks like Wetherby. Samtara broke his duck at Hereford last time but this is a lot more competitive while dual course winner Lively Citizen hasn’t fired this season. Mayhem Mya has been in good form at Sandown so warrants respect but Ben Bromley looks a good jockey booking for the four-year-old BY YOUR SIDE, who had been running well in handicaps prior to beat a big field of maidens at Naas last month. Ballygeary has rattled up a hat-trick on the northern circuit and should give a good account on his handicap debut.
Martator (FR) 25-1 (12-0) Held up off the pace in last pair, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Gumball (FR) 16-1 (12-2) Led, headed after 3 out, soon ridden along and weakened, 6th of 8, dist behind Bubble Dubi (10-10) at Stratford 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Fransham 20-1 (11-7) Towards rear, headway going okay before 3 out, pushed along next, kept on one pace from last, 3rd of 10, 12 1/2l behind Albert's Back (11-6) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Walhaan (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, 2nd and slight mistake 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra in 4th before 2 out, weakened, last of 9, dist behind Nucky Johnson (11-9) at Naas 2m Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Mayhem Mya 5-4fav (12-0) Raced keenly, led until after 2nd, chased clear leader, closer but dropped to 3rd 4 out, rallied out wide home turn, led before 2 out, soon clear, in no danger when hit last, stayed on strongly run-in, won at Sandown 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Greatest Star (10-7) by 3l, 7 ran.
Ballygeary (IRE) 6-4jfav (11-12) Midfield, chased leaders after 3 out, led before final flight, not fluent last but lost little momentum and soon asserted, pushed out, won at Kelso 2m (4) sft in Mar beating Monteplex (10-7) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Black Poppy 10-3fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, stayed on under pressure run-in, went 3rd inside final 100 yards, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Fruit N Nut (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Elham Valley (FR) 18-1 (9-6) Held up tracking leaders in 4th, reminders over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 6, 10 1/2l behind Johnny Boom (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Boston Emery (FR) (10-10) 8th of 14, 28 1/4l behind Ptiturf (10-10) at Machecoul 2m 3f sft in Feb.
By Your Side 6-4 (11-7) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, travelled well into 3rd entering straight, disputed 2nd last, ridden to challenge run-in, disputed close home, just prevailed, won at Naas 2m mdn Yielding - Soft in Mar beating The Lovely Man (11-7) by shd, 23 ran.
Lively Citizen (IRE) 10-3 (11-9) Close up, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last, 11th of 13, 37l behind Applaus (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Red Force One 20-1 (10-10) Towards rear, pushed along 3 out, never on terms, 7th of 8, 25 1/4l behind First Impression (11-7) at Catterick 2m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Samtara 15-8fav (11-12) Prominent, bumped 1st, led after next but hard pressed, ridden before last, clear flat, stayed on, won at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Mar beating Royal Mer (11-9) by 5l, 7 ran.
Ashington 3-1 (11-9) Raced wide, led until headed before hit 4 out chased leader, ridden and lost 2nd before the last, went 2nd again final 100 yards, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Fruit N Nut (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
