chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led after first furlong,driven out
led first furlong, remained with winner until ridden and weakened final furlong
held up, effort over 1f out, no impression final furlong
held up, never nearer
raced wide, mid-division, ridden halfway and outpaced, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
slowly into stride, always in rear
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, held close home
Dandy Nicholls may have Fire Up The Band ready to strike first time and he gets the vote over No Time, Little Edward and Dusty Dazzler in this class B sprint. Quite a few of these are having a pipe-opener in readiness for an assault on some of the bigger prizes on offer in the spring, but this is not a bad one to go for either, and you can be sure that Fire Up The Band will have been well galloped by his astute trainer who makes a habit of capturing decent sprints. Fire Up The Band beat a host of useful sprinters at Newmarket last May, and went on to be runner-up in the Stewards Cup and third in the Ayr Gold Cup. That is very good form indeed, the only drawback being that he has yet to score over five furlongs. However, he has the class to take this. No Time is not as good yet anyway, but is fit, having won last month, while Dusty Dazzler has had a little break after his success here two months ago. Little Edward is a gutsy mare who was only beaten a head in a valuable race at The Curragh last September. She too returns from a break but if getting out quickly, can make them go. Fire Up The Band will not mind that and he can prevail in a decent affair.