held up towards rear, headway on inside rail when hampered and stumbled 3f out, switched left to outside over 1f out, rapid headway inside final furlong, led near finish
mid-division, effort, not clear run and badly hampered on rail 3f out, kept on final furlong, not recover
with leaders until weakened quickly over 1f out
made most to 4f out, losing place on rail when hampered 3f out, no chance after
held up towards rear, effort and kept on reluctantly final furlong
in touch, driven 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, no extra final furlong
slowly into stride, held up in rear, hampered 3f out, switched left to outer over 1f out, kept on same pace
with leaders until weakened over 2f out
slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, headway to chase leaders 2f out, one pace final furlong
held up in mid-division, smooth headway 3f out, led 2f out, ridden 2 lengths clear inside final furlong, not pace of winner, headed near finish
close up, not much room 3f out, soon lost place
mid-division, effort 2f out, carrying head to one side and one pace from over 1f out
in touch, led going easily 3f out, headed 2f out, chased leader and edged right over 1f out, one pace final furlong
pushed along to go prominent, chased leader 6f out, led 4f out, headed 3f out, weakened over 2f out
A cracking start to proceedings, with an ultra competitive handicap in which many have chances including Persian Lightning, Loweswater, Pagan Dance, The Judge and Definite Guest, and it is the latter who gets the nod. Richard Fahey's five-year-old has been in good form of late, gaining back-to-back wins at York and Newbury. His come from behind style of running means that things will have to fall right for him, but he goes on the ground, is in top form and looks well up to defying a six pounds rise en-route to a crack at the Cambridgeshire. The lightweight is taken to score over Persian Lightning who has held his form well all season and will be a live threat under Pat Eddery. Ground conditions are in his favour too. John Gosden's team are hitting top form again and Loweswater can go well at a decent price. A useful three-year-old last term, he looks a bit high in the weights to be considered for win purposes but may well reach the frame, while Pagan Dance has kept good company this term and deserves to be in the shake up. Others worth a mention are last year's winner Prairie Wolf who lines up on a five pounds lower mark, Chester winner The Judge, and Albuhera who is the best of Mark Johnston's pair on paper. The Middleham stable won this three years ago with Sharp Play, so should not be ruled out of calculations. It should be close but Definite Guest can make his visit pay.
