chased leaders, switched left over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to challenge
held up towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to threaten
chased leaders, strong run inside final furlong, led final strides
held up towards rear, pushed along halfway, short of room briefly over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
unseated rider and ran loose to post, never better than mid-division, never involved
towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out
chased leaders, no extra inside final furlong
Wore net muzzle, raced keenly pressing leader, led approaching halfway, pushed along over 1f out, ridden headed and not quicken well inside final furlong
chased leaders, went 2nd on inside over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, headed last strides
slight lead but pressed, headed approaching halfway, chased leader until ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly away, behind, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer
Both Mercers and Bop It escape penalties having won apprentice handicaps over the minimum trip on their respective latest starts. New Rich beat Rapid Rise over course and distance to end a long losing run and is upped 4lb while Olaudah finished well ahead of Burauq when runner-up here but has yet to win in 16 attempts. NAPPING needs to improve on her latest effort but is the least exposed and went close at Lingfield off today’s mark earlier. She may well be good enough in this and gets the nod.
Napping 6-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 2l behind Billyoakes (9-5) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
New Rich 6-1 (9-3) Held up and behind, headway but still plenty to do over 1f out, strong between horses to lead final 110 yards, won gong away, won at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan beating Rapid Rise (8-12) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Mercers 16-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, headway to chase leader inside final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead close home, won at Lingfield 5f hcp (6) pol in Jan beating Jorvik Prince (10-4) by nk, 10 ran.
Gorgeous (FR) 3-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, close up over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 4 1/4l behind Roy's Legacy (8-11) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Bop It 16-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led close home, won at Southwell 5f hcp (6) pol in Jan beating Something Lucky (9-7) by nk, 12 ran.
Chip Or Pellet 6-1 (9-7) Chased leaders on inside, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 12, 5 1/2l behind New Rich (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Krazy Paving 8-1 (8-9) Prominent 2f, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 6 3/4l behind Pride Of Angels (9-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Olaudah 11-8fav (9-3) Led, clear ridden over 1f out, wandered both ways inside final furlong, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Pulsating (10-1) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Burauq 14-1 (9-5) Chased leaders on inside, ridden and not quicken 1f out, kept on same pace in 3rd, no chance with 1st 2, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Pulsating (10-1) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Monarch Maid 16-1 (9-4) Led narrowly, headed over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 15 1/4l behind Hisar (9-5) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Rapid Rise (IRE) 6-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, headway on outside over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind New Rich (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Mags Well (IRE) 50-1 (9-6) Led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 16 1/4l behind Roy's Legacy (8-11) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (6) pol in Dec.