pulled hard, held up tracking leading trio, eased to outside over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
tracked leader until 8f out, settled 3rd, led going well on inside well over 1f out, nudged along and ran on well final furlong, comfortably
led, hung right on paddock bend over 8f out, ridden 2f out, headed well over 1f out, no chance with winner, kept on to hold 2nd
took keen hold, held up last, pushed along 3f out, outpaced 2f out, no chance after
took keen hold, tracked leader over 8f out, edged left and not look keen over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to press for 2nd, no chance with winner
An interesting race despite the lack of numbers and the nod is given to BEYOND ahead of Bubbly Braveheart and Heading To First. Jeremy Noseda's colt improved from first to second runs, beating The Great Husk here last time out. He steps up in trip on this handicap debut but is bred to get the trip and with more improvement to come he may prove hard to beat. Bubbly Braveheart has been in good form this winter, and comes here chasing the hat-trick. Alan Bailey's son of Cape Cross races off a 3lb higher mark this afternoon but if he gets this longer trip then he should run a big race. Heading To First was an expensive failure at Wolverhampton last time out but this longer trip may bring about some improvement; it will need to however as his mark of 70 looks high enough on what he has actually achieved. Fusaichi Flyer was also a beaten favourite last time out and whilst his mark looks attractive, his form doesn't, so a bigger threat may be Moonbalej. He is stepped up markedly in trip but he is bred to improve for this longer distance and if the first-time blinkers work then he could be a hard hare to catch. The tentative vote then goes to Beyond on his handicap debut.
Bubbly Braveheart (IRE) 8-13fav (9-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, keen halfway, pushed along to challenge well over 1f out when taken badly right, soon chasing winner, kept on towards finish, just failed, (placed 2nd, awarded race), won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb beating Bubbly Braveheart (9-7) by ns, 4 ran.
Beyond (IRE) 4-7fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, chased leader 1f out, led inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Jan beating The Great Husk (9-3) by 2l, 8 ran.
Heading To First Evensfav (8-5) Chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, soon no impression on leaders, 4th of 7, 12l behind Mercoliano (8-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Feb.
Fusaichi Flyer (USA) 9-4fav (9-4) Held up intouch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 12, 10l behind Usquaebach (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Moonbalej 7-4fav (9-3) Raced wide in touch, pushed along over 3f out, effort to chase leader over 2f out soon hung left, hung right over 1f out, driven to lead, carried head high and hung left again 1f out, soon headed and one pace, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Dazakhee (8-13) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Feb.
