held up, ridden over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, not troubled leaders
pulled hard, in rear, struggling 3f out, no chance when eased final furlong
led to 7f out, tracked leader, ridden to dispute lead again over 2f out, every chance, one pace final furlong
prominent, led 7f out to over 3f out, weakened quickly 2f out
tracked leader to halfway, ridden over 2f out, not quicken, weakened over 1f out
in touch, effort 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, weakened close home
started slowly, held up mid-division, headway to lead on outer over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, not pace of winner
steadied start, settled towards rear, no headway 2f out, soon one pace
tracked leaders, led over 3f out to over 2f out, no extra, weakened final furlong
pulled hard towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on steadily to lead inside final furlong, soon clear
In a tricky race, Turn 'n Burn gets the vote ahead of Wait For The Will and Doveden Hero. The handicapper has at least given Turn 'n Burn a chance based on the best of his recent efforts and, so long as there is a good pace to the race, he can be given claims. Sovereign Spirit is on a winning Wolverhampton mark from earlier in the year, while the sole course and distance winner in the line-up, Doveden Hero, is weighted to win again although his lack of a run for 126 days is maybe a slight negative. You could not say that Ariodante is entirely out of things based on her best efforts, while Wait For The Will is always capable of running well from today's type of mark. Finally, Certifiable could have the case built for him based on 2004 form but he has been seen only once since that year, and it would not entirely be a surprise if Brendan Powell had the long-time absentee Mumbling ready to do himself justice. Once again, though, the selection is Turn 'n Burn, who might improve for the application of blinkers today.
Liberty Run (IRE) 33-1 (8-8) Settled towards rear, ridden over 3f out and no impression final 2f, 7th of 8, 7l behind Melpomene (8-6) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Turn 'n Burn 4-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, settled in rear, headway 7f out, effort 3f out, no extra and one pace final 2f, 7th of 11, 6l behind Salute (10-3) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Certifiable 17-2 (9-1) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace when hampered 1f out, eased, 10th of 11, 10l behind Mount Hillaby (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (E3) pol in Dec '04.
Sovereign Spirit (IRE) 3-1 (9-9) In rear on wide outside, headway 7f out, ridden to chase leaders 3f out, soon lost place, 6th of 13, 6l behind Share The Feeling (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 6f app hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Dovedon Hero 8-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 8, 8l behind Ardea Brave (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Aug.
Ariodante 14-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, one pace, 4th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Nawow (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Wait For The Will (USA) 7-2jt-fav (11-0) Held up in rear, steady headway from 4f out, one pace final 2f, 5th of 12, 6l behind Zalkani (10-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f amt hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Mumbling (IRE) 7-2fav (9-4) In touch, ridden along 4f out, headway 2f out to chase leader, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Mersey Sound (9-1) at Bath 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) frm in Sept '05.