pulled hard early, tracked leaders, challenged on wide outside well over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, headed well inside final furlong, no extra
held up mid-division, not clear run well over 1f out, soon ridden to challenge, weakened close home
rider very late to remove blindfold, held up mid-division, ridden 2f out, soon no impression
mid-division, hard driven halfway, weakening when hampered inside final furlong
led, ridden well over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, never troubled leaders
held up in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, soon squeezed through to challenge, led well inside final furlong, all out
held up mid-division, not clear run over 1f out, soon beaten
stumbled start, soon tracking leaders, hampered just over 1f out, soon beaten
prominent, effort 2f out, weakening when hampered inside final furlong
behind, some late headway, never nearer
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, never able to challenge
chased leaders, hard ridden to challenge over 1f out, soon hung left under pressure, not reached leaders
In a wide open really decent seven-furlong handicap we're just going to side with course specialist and top-weight ATLANTIC STORY over Ceremonial Jade while Fathsa might be value for the places. Five wins from nine starts including three over course and distance is the impressive record for the pick at this venue and he is definitely better on the Polytrack than turf. That said Mick Easterby¿s charge was putting in some decent efforts on the grass the last few times we saw him so as long as he¿s fully fit after a break he should go well under a competitive burden. Ceremonial Jade won a listed contest over this trip at Wolverhampton in March but seems just as effective on this quicker surface. It¿s been a while since we saw this one in a handiacp but on the pick of his form in these ranks he looks fairly treated. Fathsta comes into this on form having landed a weaker race over six furlongs at Kempton last time. He does stay this far and although his revised mark might stop him winning place claims are a definite possibility. Ebraam looks weighted to reverse a defeat to Imprimis Tagula after their last meeting and both should run well but in the best race on the card Atlantic Story can add to an impressive course record.
Atlantic Story (USA) 10-1 (8-7) Behind far side, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Green Manalishi (8-9) at Haydock 5f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Sep.
Ceremonial Jade (UAE) 7-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Dohasa (9-2) at Kempton 7f listed stks (1) pol in Dec.
Eisteddfod 17-2 (9-7) Held up, ridden halfway, kept on, never a factor, 4th of 9, 16l behind Imprimis Tagula (7-11) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-100 (2) fbs in Dec.
Ebraam (USA) 6-1 (9-1) Prominent, stayed on final furlong, held near finish, 2nd of 10, hd behind Imprimis Tagula (8-3) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Imprimis Tagula (IRE) 9-2 (8-3) Close up, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec beating Ebraam (9-1) by hd, 10 ran.
Carcinetto (IRE) 40-1 (8-11) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Dohasa (9-2) at Kempton 7f listed stks (1) pol in Dec.
Elna Bright 5-1 (8-9) Raced wide, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 11, 4l behind Falcativ (8-10) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Flowing Cape (IRE) 14-1 (8-3) Led, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 10, 3/4l behind Imprimis Tagula (8-3) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Benandonner (USA) 9-1 (8-9) Led 1f, taken back to track leaders soon after, ridden over 2f out, slightly outpaced approaching final furlong, driven and rallied to take 4th towards finish, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Falcativ (8-10) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Nezami (IRE) 8-1 (8-6) Held up, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Falcativ (8-10) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Wigram's Turn (USA) 10-1 (8-11) Slowly away, behind, no chance and hung right over 1f out, 8th of 9, 14l behind Khor Dubai (8-10) at Kempton 7f stks (3) pol in Nov.
Fathsta (IRE) 5-6fav (9-3) Not much room start, held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec beating Bahamian Lad (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
The Scorching Wind (IRE) 7-1 (8-4) Hampered start and dropped to rear, raced wide and held up, ridden over 2f out, never a factor, 8th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Falcativ (8-10) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Hellbender (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, hung right inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 8l behind Arteus (9-1) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
