slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, soon weakened
always behind
slowly into stride, held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon hard ridden and weakened
slowly into stride, pulled hard in mid-division, smooth headway over 2f out, soon outpaced, hard driven and ran on to lead close home
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, just failed
broke well, tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, never on terms
led after 1f, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
always behind
led 1f, led again just over 2f out, soon hard ridden and strongly challenged, headed and no extra close home
chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home
Towy Boy looks over-priced at the forecast odds so if allowed to go off at double figure price he looks a decent each-way play in this wide-open handicap but Saddler's Bend and PHA MAI BLUE were both unlucky not to score last time ad we just side with the latter. A former course and distance winner the pick nearly added to a decent track record when narrowly denied given this assignment last time. This doesn't look any tougher so off the same mark has a chance to go one better, Also under the same burden as a narrow defeat last time out is Saddler's Bend, who took advantage of a low looking mark to score on his UK debut before scraping home under the same weight two starts ago. He only just missed out under a penalty last time and although also under the same burden those runs were at Wolverhampton and we wait to see if this faster surface suits. Towy Boy is up a couple of pounds for a short-head reverse on his last run so must be given a shot at the minor prizes at a price while Suhayl Star also goes well at this venue and is weighted for an assault on some of the place money. Copperwood remains interesting after back to back victories but the assessor may now be in charge so instead we like Pha Mai Blue after that close shave last time.
Saddlers Bend (IRE) 4-6fav (8-13) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 11, hd behind Mountain Pass (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-50 (7) pol.
Bollywood Style 7-2 (9-3) Awkward leaving stalls, took keen hold, prominent, hard ridden 2f out, weakening when slightly short of room over 1f out, 7th of 8, 4l behind Sweet Applause (8-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Pha Mai Blue 11-4 (8-9) Held up, ridden and headway entering final furlong, edged left and kept on towards finish, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Waterloo Dock (8-6) at Lingfield 7f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Copperwood 10-1 (8-11) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb beating Forward Feline (9-4) by nk, 13 ran.
Trip Switch 7-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon no impression, 6th of 10, 8l behind White Shift (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
Suhayl Star (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Tracked leaders and keen, went 2nd over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 5th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Bollywood Style (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
Cornus 11-4 (8-11) Led until narrowly headed well over 2f out, chased winner, no impression and lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Spin Again (9-5) at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs in Feb.
Tamino (IRE) 3-1fav (9-3) Tracked leader, led over 4f out, ridden and headed 1f out, stayed on, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Sign of The Cross (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp (0-55) (6) pol.
Towy Boy (IRE) 11-2 (8-10) Tracked leaders and keen, kept on on towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Pipers Piping (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
Top Flight Splash 4-1 (8-9) Raced wide, close up, chased leader halfway, ridden to lead 1f out, caught post, 2nd of 12, hd behind Sign of The Cross (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp (0-55) (6) pol.
Louisiade (IRE) 16-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 14, 1l behind Guildenstern (9-0) at Kempton 7f Handicap (0-58) (4yo+) (6) pol in Feb.
Commandingpresence (USA) 33-1 (7-12) Started slowly, behind, driven along on inside well over 1f out, no danger, 5th of 8, 4l behind Prince Namid (8-5) at Lingfield 6f clm stks (6) pol.
