prominent on outside, ridden and went 2nd over 4f out, weakened 2f out, one-paced final furlong
led until headed over 5f out, ridden and weakened over 3f out
very keen, with leader, led over 5f out, ridden and edged right 2f out, driven out inside final furlong
in touch until hard ridden and no extra from 3f out
very slowly into stride, swerved left, behind until ridden and weakened 3f out
held up on inside, headway 4f out to track leaders, went 2nd 2f out, switched left inside final furlong, no extra
always towards rear, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out
A run of the mill fillies handicap in which the lightly-weighted Beauchamp Ribbon is given the vote ahead of Aries and Half Inch. Gerard Butler's filly may only be rated 53 but she earned that rating racing over shorter distances and is perhaps better judged on a second to Doris Souter at Windsor last Monday. She appeared better suited by stepping up in trip and while this does represent a drop to a mile, off this mark she certainly looks to be ahead of the handicapper. Aries was a very decent two-year-old for Mick Channon and was campaigned at some of the better meetings during her first season, her form including a third to No Time in a nursery at the Ebor meeting. Now with Mark Wallace, the market will be watched for clues as to whether she has trained on. Half Inch took a weak handicap at Warwick off a mark of 60 three runs ago. She has disappointed twice off this higher mark and there is the suspicion that the progress that was made through the application of cheekpieces may have evaporated as rapidly as it arrived. Of the remainder, Hilarious makes some appeal. Rod Millman's filly is gradually being given some respite by the handicapper and she is back to what appears to be her best trip tonight. However, we will stick with Beauchamp Ribbon.
