tracked leader, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out
close up, went 2nd over 4f out until 2f out, rallied 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on
led, ridden and headed narrowly over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
in rear, ridden over 3f out and slightly outpaced, headway under pressure 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd near finish
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Dual course and distance winner HURLINGHAM looks the one to be on in a competitive handicap. Mick Easterby's charge ran a fine race behind an improving sort last time and that performance deserves extra credit as he prefers ground with a bit of give. With that in mind any rain will further his claims but providing there's no 'firm' in the description he should go well off a nice mark. Avitus won a weak maiden handicap three starts back and has since looked in the handicapper's grip, a comment that also applies to the vulnerable Graceful Descent although Jim Goldie's mare does like it here and took second off this mark last time. Jamie Spencer rides Maslak who sees out the trip well and arrives on the back of a Windsor success but he was winning that race for the second year running, suggesting it could've been the target, and a 4lb rise makes life harder. Sanctuary has claims on his 2009 form but has been undeniably disappointing since while Ibrox hasn't been doing enough over timber.
Sanctuary 9-1 (9-8) Held up, ridden and headway 2f out, no impression soon after, 5th of 9, 8l behind Resurge (9-9) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Maslak (IRE) 4-1fav (10-4) Chased leader, led inside final 2f, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Windsor 1m 4f am hcp 0-75 (5) gf beating Bavarica (10-9) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Graceful Descent (FR) 5-1 (9-11) Prominent, led 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Epic (9-10) at Hamilton 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Hurlingham 13-2 (9-9) Tracked leader, led over 4f out, driven along over 1f out, headed 1f out, pressed winner until no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 1l behind George Adamson (10-0) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Magnitude 9-1 (9-3) Towards rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, one pace over 1f out, 5th of 12, 5l behind Rebellious Spirit (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Ibrox (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Held up, ridden and outpaced 5f out, kept on under pressure final 2f to go third towards finish, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Dart (9-3) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Jan.
King's Head (IRE) 40-1 (9-5) Held up, switched right over 2f out, never a factor, 9th of 11, 6l behind Epic (9-10) at Hamilton 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Avitus 11-2 (10-1) Tracked leaders, chased winner over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon no impression, stayed on under pressure, just held on for 2nd near finish, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Umverti (10-12) at Pontefract 1m 2f am hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
