chased leaders to halfway, soon behind
held up, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent and pulled hard, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, ran on
held up, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer
keen, in touch, saddle soon slipped, weakened over 3f out
held up, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer
held up and keen, ridden 3f out, keeping on when not clear run over 1f out, no danger after
prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, headway over 4f out, ridden and switched right over 2f out, edged right and weakened over 1f out
A difficult start to the evening's proceedings and under the testing conditions it may pay to stick with those towards the bottom end of the handicap with Dash of Magic marginally preferred to Paradise Garden and Larad. The last mentioned carries a 5lb penalty for his win at Beverley last month and has to be respected at the weights but has yet to prove his effectiveness under conditions as testing as this. Although 7lbs wrong in the weights, Paradise Garden is due to go up in future handicaps so may not be as badly treated as it appears at first glance. However, along with the likes of Margarets Wish and Santiburi Lad, the seven-year-old is better on a faster surface and is probably best watched today. Mick Easterby's Pension Fund does have winning form in the soft and a market move for the 10-year-old would be of interest, especially as his trainer does well in this type of contest. Dash Of Magic has been seen more regularly on the all-weather than on turf of late but is still capable of fair form on his day. James Hetherton's mare has winning form on the soft, is well enough treated and, off a lightweight, looks the percentage call.