tracked leaders, every chance 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
soon led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened 1f out
took keen hold in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, no further impression
mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden to chase leader 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division until weakened 2f out
tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra when headed final 50 yards
held up towards rear, steady progress from 3f out, ridden and stayed on strongly final furlong, led final 50 yards
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, held when short of room over 1f out
always behind
held up behind, travelling well when not clear run over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, never a threat
chased leaders, struggling 5f out, stayed on gamely under pressure final 2f, not pace to get on terms
short lived effort 3f out, mainly towards rear
The unexposed CRACKENTORP looks to be still be ahead of the handicapper despite being up six pounds for a cozy success at Lingfield last time out and Ralph Beckett's charge is taken to score ahead of Red Merlin and Special Reserve. The selection was following up on a similarly easy success over the same course and distance to break his maiden and despite having to shake off a 267 day break the four-year-old should go well on a surface on which he is just as effective stepping up to a trip that should suit him very nicely. Red Merlin is a course and distance winner so we know he handles this idiosyncratic track well with his mark now eight pounds worse off than when he scored last time out he looks up against it. Special Reserve ran a solid race off this mark last time out and did win under a pound lower last season. He wasn't completely disgraced by the high-class Conduit either during that campaign and he is capable of a big run. John Terry is racing off a winnable mark but the ground is softer than ideal while Bassinet is weighted to challenge for some prize money. A good competitive race this where Crackentorp is our idea of the winner.
Dona Alba (IRE) 9-4fav (9-4) Dropped into rear at start, headway from over 3f out, joined winner and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 6l behind Seeking The Buck (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
John Terry (IRE) 17-2 (9-4) Tracked leader, led over 9f out, headed over 8f out, ridden to lead again over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Martyr (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Goodwood Starlight (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 8, well behind Seeking The Buck (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Manyriverstocross (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 12, 10l behind Electrolyser (9-0) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Wine 'n Dine 14-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, always in rear, eased from over 4f out, virutally pulled up from 3f out, last of 9, well behind Victoria Montoya (8-2) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Crackentorp 8-1 (8-8) Keen, switched left soon after start to track leader until 8f out, remained close up, led over 1f out, ridden clear, won at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) pol in Sep beating Hustle (9-1) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Red Merlin (IRE) 11-4 (8-10) Towards rear, rapid headway to lead over 2f out, driven and kept on final furlong, joined post, won at Chester 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf deadheating with Empowered (9-1), 8 ran.
Rowan Rio 15-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, led over 5f out to over 2f out, soon one pace, 5th of 6, 6l behind Inchwood (9-4) at Windsor 1m 4f 3yo hcp (3) gd in Oct.
King Supreme (IRE) 3-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, led inside final 3f, ridden and headed inside final 2f, chased winner under pressure after, held inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Shimoni (9-4) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Special Reserve (IRE) 11-4 (9-1) Tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Bullet Man (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Sam Lord 9-1 (9-4) Held up in mid-division on inside, not clear run from over 1f out, heavily eased inside final furlong, 9th of 12, 4l behind War of The Roses (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcap (4) pol in Feb.
Aaim To Prosper (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Towards rear, never a factor, 17th of 18, well behind Furmigadelagiusta (9-8) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gs.
Bassinet (USA) 20-1 (9-3) Held up last, still plenty to do over 1f out, rapid headway inside final furlong, took 2nd near finish, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Art Man (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Buddy Holly 9-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden along 3f out, driven to challenge when hung right over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Aleatricis (8-10) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
