led far side group until over 1f out, soon weakened
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, pushed along and headway 2f out, kept on same pace
slowly away, in rear far side, weakened and eased 2f out
reared start and slowly away, recovered 6f out, in touch, ridden and headway 2f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish
tracked leaders, chased winner over 2f out, stayed on one pace final furlong
in touch, headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong
in rear, pushed along and headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, headway over 1f out, weakened approaching final furlong
tracked leader far side, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on under pressure towards finish
close up far side, led this group over 1f out, weakened approaching final furlong
made most, ridden over 1f out, stayed on gamely
tracked leaders far side, weakened 3f out
very slowly away, towards rear, never on terms
prominent, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out
close up, pushed along over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
towards rear, weakened over 2f out, tailed off
held up, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms
slowly away, held up, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms
in touch, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on one pace final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
Baltimore Boy makes his handicap debut having finished second to Raising Sand at Ascot in September. Isla Kai still looks high enough in the weights but Broken Spear handles today’s ground though has yet to win over this far. Zozimus won just the once on the all-weather in Ireland and debuts for a new yard but The Gatekeeper made a winning reappearance at Newcastle and can go well. Arthur's Realm has placed in soft going back here since winning last year’s renewal but finished behind runner-up Tropez Power at Newcastle recently with HARSWELL DUKE further back. The latter will be sharper for that outing and, having landed a double on testing ground last autumn, Roger Fell’s charge should be in the mix.
Isla Kai (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Chased leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on until no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 20, 5l behind Substantial (8-7) at York 1m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Zozimus (IRE) 11-2 (10-0) Mid-division early, ran freely and chased leaders after 2f, 3rd halfway, ridden towards outer 2f out, no extra over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 2l behind Ozymandis (9-10) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Nov.
Arthur's Realm (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Raced stands side, chased leader, ridden 2f out, lost place over 1f out, 6th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Point Lynas (9-9) at Newcastle 1m hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Baltimore Boy (IRE) 22-1 (9-3) Dwelt in rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Raising Sand (9-7) at Ascot 1m stks (3) gs in Sep.
Raising Sand 33-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, weakened final 2f, last of 6, 8l behind Zip (8-7) at Newcastle 7f hcp (2) pol in Jan.
The Gatekeeper (IRE) 9-1 (9-9) Raced centre, led until halfway, chased leader, edged right towards near side and led again over 1f out, pushed along and soon clear, ran on strongly, won at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Mar beating Starshiba (9-3) by 2l, 7 ran.
Tropez Power (IRE) 9-4fav (9-10) Raced stands side, held up in mid-division, switched left and headway 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on, always just held, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Point Lynas (9-9) at Newcastle 1m hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Lion Tower (IRE) 40-1 (9-4) In touch, pushed along and weakened approaching final furlong, 8th of 9, 10l behind Baradar (9-6) at Doncaster 7f hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
Dutch Decoy 100-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders near side, pushed along and led 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 7th of 28, 4 1/2l behind Majestic (8-2) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Dirtyoldtown (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Chasing leaders on inside when steadied off heels and lost place 6f out, mid-division, pushed along 3f out, ridden and beaten over 2f out, 12th of 14, 7l behind Gweedore (9-6) at Ayr 1m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Titian (IRE) 17-2 (9-6) Held up in last pair, headway near side of group over 2f out, 4th and no impression over 1f out, 4th of 6, 8l behind Zealot (9-9) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Warning Sign (FR) 33-1 (9-11) Held up in rear, not clear run and switched out wide inside final 2f, some late minor headway, never near leaders, 6th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Mystery Fox (9-9) at Goodwood 1m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Harswell Duke (IRE) 17-2 (9-2) Raced stands side, led group, beaten over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 11, 5l behind Point Lynas (9-9) at Newcastle 1m hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Billy Mill 9-2 (9-8) Raced wide and prominent, led over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened and two lost places final 100 yards, 5th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Follow Your Heart (9-5) at Kempton 7f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Broken Spear 40-1 (9-1) Always towards rear, 12th of 14, 3 3/4l behind Swayze (9-7) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Roudemental (IRE) 11-4fav (9-9) Chased leaders, led over 1f out, soon headed, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Dingle (9-7) at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Devasboy 40-1 (9-2) Prominent 2f, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Athmad (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Counsel 25-1 (8-5) Raced wide keen, in touch, headway to lead 4f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 11, 6 3/4l behind Perseverants (8-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (3) pol in Feb.
Mercurius Power (IRE) 28-1 (9-6) Held up in mid-division, driven 3f out, switched left over 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, kept on, 4th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Starshiba (9-8) at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Tothenines (IRE) 7-2fav (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, hung left and switched right over 1f out, kept on, went 3rd well inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind May Night (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Maysong 10-3 (9-4) Held up in touch, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to challenge, 4th of 6, 1 1/4l behind Barging Thru (9-10) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Clear Angel 18-1 (9-6) Led, pressed for lead 3f out, travelling okay when headed 2f out, soon driven, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Crownthorpe (9-7) at Newcastle 1m hcp (5) pol in Mar.
