tracked leader, lost place over 2f out
held up towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, stayed on well
held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on same pace
held up toward rear, headway 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong
slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on
Now down to a handicap weight below that he last carried to vioctory TOUS LES DEUX is the selection in a tight handicap just ahead of Final Drive while Alqaahir is fancied to go well at bigger prices. The pick did fail to score off his last winning mark two starts ago before being well held in a seller last time but he returns to a track he goes well at and now a full eight pounds below that last winnig rating he looks worth chancing. Final Drive finished last season with a bang landing back to back races including here on his final juvenile start. If returning in the same vain he can improve to overcome his revised mark. Alqaahir has a 50% strike rate at this venue and wasn't beaten that far by a red-hot rival on his return to the handicap ranks last time. He went close off this rating at Wolverhampton in January and a simialr run will have hime close. Beauchamp Wizard is another returning this season and having also finshed last term well he is expected to run a big race with Jamie Spencer given the leg-up but with the race fitness in the bag we take Tous Les Deux.
Northern Spy (USA) 15-2 (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 5l behind Benandonner (9-0) at Lingfield 7f clm stks (6) pol in Dec.
Beauchamp Wizard 2-1 (8-10) Led, raced keenly, headed over 7f out, ridden over 1f out, soon beaten, last of 2, 8l behind Dreamwalk (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (6) gf in Oct.
Alqaahir (USA) 12-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and unable to quicken inside final furlong, no extra, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Dajen (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
Tous Les Deux 7-1 (9-8) In rear, brought wide over 1f, soon ridden, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 7, 1 1/4l behind The Mumbo (9-3) at Lingfield 1m sell stks (6) pol in Mar.
Fault 16-1 (9-0) Held up in mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, never able to challenge, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Copperwood (8-10) at Lingfield 7f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Final Drive (IRE) 7-2 (9-12) Held up, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Headache (9-2) by nk, 13 ran.
Navene (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Steadied start, pulled hard in rear, ridden and struggling 3f out, tailed off, last of 9, 42l behind Miss Bootylishes (8-13) at Ffos Las 1m fll hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Sapphire Prince (USA) 12-1 (8-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 9th of 13, 11l behind Striding Edge (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
See Elsie Play 20-1 (8-6) Held up towards rear, under pressure over 3f out, never on terms, 6th of 11, 8l behind By Command (9-3) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-65 (6) sft.
Outofoil (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Striding Edge (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
