raced wide in touch, lost place 4f out, kept on final furlong
behind, never reached challenging position
took keen hold towards rear, some headway 2f out, one pace and no impression over 1f out
close up, pushed along and outpaced 4f out, stayed on under pressure over 1f out, took third last stride
in touch, driven to chase leading pair over 1f out, no impression final furlong, lost two places near finish
sweating heavily, narrow lead, headed over 3f out, weakened rapidly over 2f out
in touch, hard ridden to chase winner well over 1f out, no impression
chased leaders over 11f,
held up, headway and in touch 5f out, ridden and not quickened 4f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong
always behind
behind, never reached challenging position
dwelt, keen and soon tracked leaders, chased easy winner over 2f out, to well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
slowly away, always behind, eased when no chance final furlong
A wide open handicap here and many would have chances on their best form but the principals look to be Sian Thomas,Turnstile,Screenplay, Nawow and Hathlen and the narrow vote is given to Turnstile. The selection won well on his last run of last season when beating Niobe's Way and although he has top weight he will be hard to beat as he looked as he would improve again with age. If fit after a long break he will be hard tom beat. Sian Thomas rates the main danger as she has been in fair form on the all-weather and returns to Turf on a lenient mark but she has yet to prove she stays this far and for that reason is opposed. Screenplay is another worthy of respect as he won well last time out when beating Masterman Ready. However that was on much softer ground and he has a penalty for that win so will need to improve again to score. Nawow was a fair third behind Linens Flame last time and is another with place claims but he looks in the handicapper's grip. Hathlen was a good third behind Malibu in a similar race last time and is sure to have come on for the run but in a race that throws up more questions than answers for the winner we return to Turnstile.
Turnstile 3-1 Held up, headway and led over 2f out, hard pressed and joined over 1f out, stayed on gamely under pressure, held on near finish, won at Goodwood 1m 6f 3yo mdn (D3) gs in Oct beating Niobe's Way by a shd, 11 ran.
Eastborough (IRE) 7-2fav Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, led just over 1f out, soon clear comfortably, won at Warwick 1m 5f hcp gs in Apr beating Charmatic by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Screenplay 9-1 Held up, headway on inside from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Folkestone 1m 7f hcp sft in Apr beating Masterman Ready by a nk, 9 ran.
Nawow 7-2 Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3f out to entering final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 13, 9l behind Linens Flame at Kempton 1m 6f hcp gs in Apr.
Velvet Waters 10-1 Close up until weakened 2f out, 9th of 16, 7l behind Belle Rouge at Goodwood 1m 4f stk (D2) gd in Sept.
Hathlen (IRE) 8-1 Led, ridden over 3f out, headed well over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Malibu at Lingfield 1m 4f stk pol in Apr.
Moon Emperor 15-2 Behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Saida Lenasera at Southwell 2m hcp gs in Apr.
Sian Thomas 10-11fav Held up, tracked leader halfway, led well over 1f out, kept on until headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Malibu at Lingfield 1m 4f stk pol in Apr.
