prominent, lost place and dropped to rear 3f out, stayed on again over 1f out, ran out
in touch, chased leader 2f out, headway to challenge 1f, led narrowly inside final furlong, no extra and beaten final 75 yards
in rear, headway on outer over 1f out, ran on to lead final 75 yards, readily
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, never nearer
in touch, chased leaders 2f out, not quicken and weakened 1f out
slowly into stride, chased leaders after 2f, ridden and long place over 3f out, weakened and in rear over 2f out
took very keen hold, tracked leader, lead after 3f, hard pressed 1f out, no extra when headed inside final furlong
took keen hold, led 3f, tracked leader to 3f out, weakened from 2f out
pulled hard, wide and in touch, ridden and outpaced final 2f
Barney McGrew gets the confident vote in this handicap with Foreign Language and Red Birr rating the main dangers. The selection won a maiden in good style last time out when beating Fairdonna and he enters handicaps off what looks a fair mark. This longer trip also looks likely to bring about some improvement and he looks the one to be on. Foreign Language rates the main danger as he also won well last time when beating Chia but he is more exposed than the selection and is opposed with this in mind. Red Birr was a fair fourth behind Solo Flight last time and is another with place claims but all his best form is over further. Grey Boy is from a yard in form and could go well at a price but he looks weighted up to his best and we will return to the unexposed Barney McGrew as our choice to lead them home.
Katiypour (IRE) 50-1 (7-12) Chased leaders on stands side, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 18, 9l behind All Ivory (8-10) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gs in Sept.
Fajr (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Raced stands side, held up, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on well, 3rd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Plum Pudding (9-2) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Sept.
Waterline Twenty (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, never nearer, 5th of 11, 2l behind Mina A Salem (9-1) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Grey Boy (GER) 14-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 11, 3l behind Mina A Salem (9-1) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Red Birr (IRE) 15-8fav (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Solo Flight (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Barney McGrew (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Chased leader, ridden to lead just over 1f out, soon edged left, ran on, won at W'hampton 7f mdn stk (5) pol in Dec beating Fairdonna (8-12) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Smokin Joe 13-2 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 7l behind Bank On Benny (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Foreign Language (USA) 9-2 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, no extra close home, 4th of 6, 1 1/2l behind Just Bond (9-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (5) pol.
