tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed inside final furlong, stayed on
tracked leader, edged left and led 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, rallied to lead again inside final furlong
led, ridden headed 2f out, soon beaten, eased inside final furlong
raced wide intouch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased inside final furlong
held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, driven and kept on to go 3rd final 50 yards
dwelt, keen, held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, went 3rd 1f out until final 50 yards
keen tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
This handicap should provide a close race with our preference for IMJIN RIVER ahead of Henry Candy's London Gold and Pin Cushion. Our selection has won well twice on the all-weather tracks at Kempton and Southwell but struggled on good ground at Yarmouth in April. However a recent third on good to firm ground at York points to a vast improvement on previous runs. We expect a further progression here. Pin Cushion has a respectable pedigree but has failed to progress from three runs in maidens. Running in a handicap here does not promise to yield better results, but with Brian Meehan having a 24% record over the last five years at Leicester with three-year-olds means Pin Cushion is respected. London Gold appears to favour softer ground on the basis of previous runs and Kakapuka who has won over similar distance and going, are both worth consideration too. In this even handicap we side with Mark Tompkins trained horse. The yard may not turn out a plethora of winners, but Imjin River can defy statistics to score here.
Pin Cushion 11-4 (8-12) Dwelt, behind, still plenty to do over 2f out, headway centre over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, finished well, 4th of 14, 1 1/4l behind Za Za Zoom (8-12) at Windsor 6f 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct.
London Gold 14-1 (8-4) Prominent, every chance 1f out, soon ridden, weakened well inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 5l behind Folly Bridge (8-6) at Nottingham 6f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Call To Arms (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 7th of 8, 14l behind Haatheq (9-0) at Leicester 7f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Dancing Freddy (IRE) 25-1 (8-2) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, no impression, 6th of 9, 7l behind Confessional (8-6) at Southwell 5f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) fbs.
Kakapuka 9-2 (9-0) With leader, led and hung left over 1f out, soon headed, kept on, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Hoof It (8-9) at Beverley 5f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Kummel Excess (IRE) 11-2 (8-12) Dwelt, always behind, last of 10, 15l behind Grudge (9-8) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Apr.
Imjin River (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Pushed along towards rear, switched left well over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Hoof It (8-11) at York 5f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Superior Edge 7-2 (8-10) Chased leaders, driven halfway, lost place over 1f out, 6th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Special Quality (9-1) at Southwell 5f mdn stks (5) fbs.
