set searching pace, ridden 2 lengths clear over 1f out, caught post
keen, always in rear
in touch, ridden 2f out, headway entering final furlong, stayed on, nearest finish
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, ran to lead post
short of room at start, towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer
chased leading pair, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
close up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on one pace
dwelt, in rear, ridden halfway, never on terms
in rear, ridden halfway, never on terms
Quick March, Ice Age and September Issue were all beaten on their handicap debuts having won maiden races earlier. Rosealee and Sir Dudley failed to cope with a rise in the weights last time having both won their respective penultimate starts in a handicaps with the latter beating Black Bess over track and trip. Irish Eclare arrives in good form but is upped in class off a 7lb higher mark after landing a double at Chelmsford and HAPPY CALL (NAP) is preferred. He scored by a couple of lengths over course and distance in November and further progress is expected from Simon Crisford’s charge this year.
Sir Dudley (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, soon with leaders, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Gwendolyn (9-0) at Ripon 5f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Quick March 10-1 (9-0) Close up, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 16th of 17, 12 3/4l behind Remarkable (8-8) at Doncaster 6f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Ice Age (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Close up, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Suqoor (9-5) at Lingfield 7f hcp (4) pol in Apr.
Happy Call 11-4 (9-5) Headway to lead 5f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Lingfield 6f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Sir Roger Moore (9-5) by 2l, 8 ran.
September Issue 17-2 (8-7) Held up in touch, hard driven halfway, weakened over 1f out, last of 5, 9 1/4l behind Ikerrin Road (8-8) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Irish Eclare (IRE) 6-4fav (9-7) Made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (5) pol in Apr beating Born To Finish (9-3) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Rosealee (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Raced keenly, held up towards rear on inside, headway halfway, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Willsy (9-0) at Bath 6f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Black Bess 25-1 (8-13) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Sir Dudley (9-7) at Lingfield 6f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Medicean El Diablo 4-1 (9-5) Rear of mid-division, ran freely, 8th halfway, switched right 2f out and ridden in 6th 1f out, no impression and kept on one pace, 4th of 14, 1 3/4l behind Another Story (9-0) at Dundalk 6f mdn pol in Nov.