chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, quickly faltered, eased and pulled up over 1f out
with leader, led 3f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
held up, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
led, headed 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
always behind
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
held up, ridden over 1f out, soon headway on outer, stayed on well inside final furlong nearest at finish
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway half way, led inside final furlong, held on well
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, every chance entering final furlong, no extra towards finish
BRASSINI may be able to land the odds in a tight handicap where cases can be made for the majority of the field; likely dangers include Methaaly and Dingaan. Rod Millman's charge has been raised by 2lbs for his win at Sandown but is still reasonably treated on the best of his form and is well drawn although there are concerns as to whether this will provide him with a stiff enough test. Dingaan is a talented but frustrating individual who returned to somewhere near his best when third to the selection; this track could play to his strengths but he's one to be wary of. Methaaly has received little assistance from the handicapper since winning at Doncaster but shapes as though worth another try at this trip and has run respectably here in the past. Zomerlust has also run fairly well here despite not making the frame in three starts and a return to form looks imminent judged by his latest performance but he has yet to win over this trip. It will be interesting to see if David Evans can get the best out of Gift Horse whilst his other runner, Desert Dreamer, is not without claims and neither is Fiefdom although he has been an infrequent winner over the years. In contrast, Brassini has a decent strike rate and he may be able to improve on that this evening.
Brassini 5-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, led just inside final 3, ran on strongly from over 1f out, held on gamely final furlong, driven out, won at Sandown 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gd beating Quest For Success (9-12) by 1l, 10 ran.
Billy Dane (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Stumbled start, set steady pace, ridden 2f out, headed entering final furlong, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 8l behind Dream Lodge (9-9) at Redcar 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Gallantry 28-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up in last, always in rear, 8th of 9, 9l behind Lowther (9-5) at Chester 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Methaaly (IRE) 9-2 (9-10) Held up towards rear, headway and switched left over 1f out, stayed on, 5th of 19, 4 1/2l behind Dancing Maite (9-6) at York 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Gift Horse 8-1 (9-3) Soon mid-division, losing place when badly hampered on inside 2f out, last of 9, 11l behind Tyrannosaurus Rex (9-1) at Chester 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Parisian Dream 14-1 (8-8) Mid-division, ridden 4f out, soon struggling, tailed off final 2f, 11th of 12, 36l behind Buccellati (8-10) at Chester 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Sep '07.
Zomerlust 20-1 (8-6) Mid-division, chased leaders over 3f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, no impression, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Celtic Sultan (8-13) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May.
Dingaan (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway on outside from well over 1f out, kept on to take 3rd well inside final furlong but never near to challenge, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Brassini (9-5) at Sandown 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Desert Dreamer (IRE) 6-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, no impression on leader inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Ocean Transit (8-12) at Warwick 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Fiefdom (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Held up behind, headway on outside over 1f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 12, 4 1/2l behind I Confess (9-1) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
