held up 4th, ridden to lead just over 2f out, hard pressed and headed inside final furlong, just outpaced towards finish
held up last, headway on outer to chase leaders 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, led inside final furlong, asserted towards finish, ridden out
held up 3rd, ridden over 2f out, lost place and outpaced 2f out, soon behind
steady start, took keen hold in 5th, ridden 3f out, outpaced and in rear over 2f out
led, ridden and headed just over 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, one pace afterwards
tracked leader, ridden and effort over 2f out, no extra and stayed on one pace from over 1f out
Millville gets the narrow nomination in this tight handicap with Sri Diamond and Crow Wood rating the main dangers. The selection was a decent second behind Sweet Indulgance last time out; form which looks rock solid in the context of this race and off the same mark here he looks the one to beat. Sri Diamond rates the main danger on his best form but the suspicion is he may just need the run after a 259-day absence and he is taken on. Crow Wood has been in good form over hurdles of late and returns to the flat on a fair mark but he is not proven on this surface and is opposable on that basis. Of the remainder, Fusili is game and consistent and is sure to run his race but he has yet to win over this trip and with all this in mind for the winner we return to Millville who looks sure to have the race run to suit.
Millville 11-4fav (9-12) Held up, headway over 5f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led briefly inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 7, nk behind Sweet Indulgence (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Sri Diamond 10-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, no headway and weakened 2f out, eased over 1f out, last of 11, 50l behind Mubtaker (9-1) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Savannah 25-1 (9-3) Chased leader, lost 2nd over 4f out, soon in rear, tailed off final 2f, last of 6, 20l behind Vortex (9-5) at Lingfield 7f stk (4) pol in Dec.
Mission To Mars 11-4fav (10-0) Held up, headway over 4f out, ridden 2f out, chased winner final furlong, weakened close home, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Mr Mischief (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (C) fbs in Mar '04.
Crow Wood 12-1 (9-5) Prominent, switched to race centre entering straight, lost over 3f out, 8th of 15, 15l behind Mikao (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Sept.
Fusili (IRE) 11-1 (9-4) Chased winner throughout, strong challenge inside final furlong, kept on gamely towards finish, just held, 2nd of 9, hd behind Alpine Reel (9-7) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Dec.
