held up in rear, moderate late headway final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, went 2nd over 1f out, until approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace
held up and always rear division
in touch, headway to chase leading pair 4f out, weakened inside final 2f
mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra
held up in rear, headway 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
always rear division
never reach beyond mid-division
tracked leader, led 6f out to over 1f out, weakened final furlong
soon led, headed 6f out, weakened and behind final 4f
mid-division, weakened and behind final 4f
held up in mid-division, headway on outside going well 2f out, chased leader approaching final furlong, soon led, driven, stayed on well
slowly into stride and always in rear division
This is a competitive handicap to close the card and the vote is given to Domenico who is preferred to Come What Augustus and Countback. The selection ran well enough over the course and distance last time when a close fourth behind Mister Completely. Come What Augustus finished in front of our selection in that race but on these revised terms Domenico should turn the tables today. Countback was disappointing at Wolverhampton last time and he has yet to win a race after 32 attempts. However, he has gone close in handicap company over this trip before and he is not without a chance if he can rekindle some of his enthusiasm. Speed Winner should have won last time when he found trouble in running, but this is more competitive and he will need to improve to make the frame. Domenico has a good draw and is taken to get his head in front.
Montecristo 80-1 (8-13) Held up, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 4th of 8, 14l behind Market Watcher (9-9) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec.
River Gypsy 10-1 (8-3) Tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, not quicken, soon one pace, 6th of 13, 6l behind Double Spectre (9-4) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sept.
Come What Augustus 40-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 6f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Mister Completely (8-11) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Fortune Dancer (USA) (9-1) 6th of 14, 8l behind Wadadelight (8-6) at Sha Tin 1m 1f in May '05.
Domenico (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, led briefly 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 4th of 10, 7l behind Mister Completely (8-11) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Lysander's Quest (IRE) 11-4 (9-9) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on well, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Mister Completely (9-8) at Kempton 2m banded stk (7) pol in Dec.
Countback (FR) 33-1 (10-6) Held up, headway 4f out, ridden to chase leader over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 16l behind Cumbrian Knight (10-9) at W'hampton 2m 1f amt hcp (6) pol.
Make My Hay 40-1 (8-12) Towards rear, never a factor, last of 14, well behind Red River Rebel (9-3) at Southwell 1m 6f banded stk (7) fbs in Nov.
Flyoff (IRE) 100-1 (9-3) Led, headed over 8f out, soon beaten, 10th of 11, well behind Miss Holly (9-8) at Southwell 1m 4f banded stk (7) fbs in Dec.
Speed Winner (AUS) 8-11fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, pushed way through over 2f out, chasing winner when switched left inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Nod's Star (9-5) at Kempton 2m Stks (41-45) (7) pol.
Hawksmoor (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, soon lost place, last of 13, 46l behind Earl Kraul (8-12) at Kempton 1m 2f Stks (41-45) (7) pol.
Coppington Melody (IRE) 25-1 (8-9) Held up, headway 6f out, hampered 5f out, soon lost place, 8th of 9, 20l behind Atlantic Gamble (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-50 (6) pol.
Josh You Are 10-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway 4f out, in lead when came back into view inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Kempton 1m 3f mdn clm (7) pol in Dec beating Simplified (8-8) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Orphir (IRE) 66-1 (8-10) Towards rear, reminders over 5f out, never a factor, last of 8, 34l behind Credential (8-13) at Southwell 1m 3f app mdn (6) fbs.
