held up in touch, ridden 3f out, soon one paced
in touch wide, ridden over 2f out, soon lost action, weakened quickly and eased 1f out
track leaders, led 2f out, ridden clear 1f out, ran on well
behind, headway 2f out, not reach reach leaders, stayed on same pace in final furlong
led until headed 2f out, kept on until weakened final furlong
started slowly, held up towards rear, headway on outer over 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, always held
in rear, some headway 2f out, never nearer
slowly into stride, soon in mid-division, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
close up, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened and eased final furlong
pulled hard towards rear, headway wide 2f out, ran on well final furlong to take third, nearest finish
started slowly, towards rear, ridden 3f out, never dangerous
track leader, ridden 3f out, weakened quickly inside final two furlongs
held up mid-division, headway to chase winner over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, lost third close home
behind, headway 2f out, kept on final furlong, not trouble leaders
prominent, effort over 2f out, soon ridden and kept on same pace
The progressive Secret Place gets our vote here ahead of Free Trip, Makfool, Desert Dreamer, Mandobi and Taruskin. Much as the selection has been raised eight pounds for beating Dr Thong at Goodwood last time, that rates as decent handicap form and, having proven that he handles an undulating and switchback track and comes here in good heart, can run well again. Botanical has been quite highly tried to date so time will tell as to how good he is, but Makfool's second to subsequent Vodafone Derby supplementary entry Gatwick in a valuable Haydock handicap last time has a very good look to it. Desert Dreamer will probably fare better back at this trip and, if reading Gatwick form literally, his chance is the equal of Makfool, while Overdrawn has a bit to find. The best of Mandobi's juvenile form brings him into the mix and he should have better to come this year, while Free Trip ran well from the unfavoured side from today's mark at Lingfield last time, a race in which he finished one-and-a-half lengths behind Flip Flop And Fly but is now three pounds better off. Taruskin will be better off at this rip than the six he encountered at Salisbury last time and is another to pay some heed to in a tricky handicap. Overall, though, our vote just goes to Secret Place.
