chased leaders, driven along from 3f out, stayed close up until no extra final furlong
held up in 7th, headway and switched right over 1f out, took 3rd inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders
ran in snatches in touch, effort and driven along 3f out, soon hung right and weakened
chased leaders, hard driven 3f out, soon weakened
held up in 8th, headway under pressure over 2f out, one pace and no impression
close up, headway to chase leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven and kept on well
led, driven along 3f out, narrowly headed inside final 2f, stayed challenging until weakened over 1f out
behind, ridden and no headway final 2f
slowly away, in rear, ran wide bend into straight, tailed off
chased leader, led inside final 2f, hard pressed and kept on well until headed inside final furlong, stayed on
Nick Littmoden has his string in good form and Ile Facile can do his bit to expand on the recent stats by holding off Mustang Ali and Velvet Waters, who make the most appeal out of the rest in this ordinary handicap. Desert Image is another that does have claims in this sort of company though as his series on near misses since April underlines. However, he has found it hard to win since winning over seven furlongs here off a 5lb lower mark in January, and may again find a few too good. Mustang Ali also has a similar profile so Velvet Waters - a gutsy winner over this trip at Bath last time - could provide the selection with the most to do. However, he has been well held off this mark in handicaps before and will also need to post a best effort to prevail today. Therefore, Ile Facile, picks up 7lb extra for his defeat of Our Emmy Lou at Catterick, looks a more reliable option this afternoon. Unusually for a son of Turtle Island, Littmoden's charge seems to act well on a firm surface and, with some useful course form to his name, Ile Facile looks to have a very good chance of carrying his penalty to victory today.
