tracked leader 2f, tracked leaders 2nd again 4f out until inside final 2f, weakened final furlong
raced keenly in touch, weakened over 2f out
held up in last pair, good headway on inside chasing leaders 2f out, went between horses inside final 2f, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well
held up in 6th, headway on outside over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong and closed, just held
always behind
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
slightly hampered start, mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders 6f out, hung badly left from 2f out, 3rd and no impression final furlong
raced keenly, tracked leaders, 2nd 6f out until 4f out, chased leaders, 2nd again inside final 2f, ridden to challenge over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
Takumi will likely be winning this year as he steps up in trip for his handicap debut. Young Merlin and Twenty Years On are other handicap debutants returning to action but HTILOMINLO has the form in the book. Narrowly beaten over today’s trip at Salisbury on his handicap bow, with the re-opposing Cromwell well beaten, Sylvester Kirk’s colt looks capable of opening his account off his current mark. Peckinpah placed at Wolverhampton on his return and makes most appeal of the remainder.
Young Merlin (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Mid-division, driven over 2f out, ridden and kept on from over 1f out, never near leaders, 5th of 13, 11 1/4l behind Tauteke (8-11) at Chelmsford City 1m stks (3) pol in Nov.
Toybox 12-1 (9-7) Raced wide close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 9 1/4l behind On The Line (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Takumi (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Chased leader, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 3 3/4l behind Lariat (9-2) at Ayr 1m stks (4) sft in Sep.
Htilominlo 7-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, hampered 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, headed close home, 2nd of 10, shd behind Mayfair Spirit (8-12) at Salisbury 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Apr.
Peckinpah (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Dwelt towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Noble Lineage (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Apr.
Limelighter 25-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never a factor, 8th of 11, 15 1/2l behind Water Diviner (9-9) at Brighton 1m stks (5) gd in Oct.
Twenty Years On 12-1 (9-2) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, never on terms, 5th of 9, 6 1/2l behind Ideological (9-2) at Kempton 1m stks (6) pol in Oct.
Queen's Soldier (GER) 4-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden over 1f out, not trouble leaders, 5th of 7, 12 3/4l behind Withoutdestination (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Cromwell 33-1 (8-5) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, not trouble leaders, 6th of 10, 4 3/4l behind Mayfair Spirit (8-12) at Salisbury 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Apr.