tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, driven over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
led, ridden 2f out, 2 lengths clear 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on
pushed along in rear, never on terms
tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, driven to lead well inside final furlong, idled near finish
in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
With Freddie's Girl difficult to assess in a handicap for the first time and Novay Essjay yet to take to the polytrack we'll take a bit of a chance in this small field sprint handicap by siding with BELL'S OCEAN. John Ryan's filly is proven over this far and has handled this track well in the past. She wasn't beaten far when third over course and distance in September and now three pounds lighter in the handicap than on that day she has every chance of running a big race. Freddie's Girl was a comfortable winner over the minimum trip in a maiden last time but seems to stay at least this test. She'll have every help from her on-form pilot but her mark is not obviously lenient so we turn elsewhere. Novay Essjay won a similar event at Southwell on his last run and although he should handle the polytrack it's not guaranteed. Pomeroy was expected to do better on his handicap bow so a market watch might be the best guide to his chances but in a tricky contest Bell's Ocean might represent a value call.
Novay Essjay (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Made all, strongly challenged from 2f out, stayed on gamely under pressure, won at Southwell 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) fbs beating Flow Chart (9-4) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Freddie's Girl (USA) 4-1 (9-0) Soon led, kicked on 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon 2 lengths clear, ran on well, won at Lingfield 5f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol beating Blue Zephyr (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Bell's Ocean (USA) 11-1 (8-13) Towards rear, pushed along halfway, some headway on outside over 2f out, never reached leaders, 7th of 14, 4l behind Coolree Star (9-3) at Windsor 6f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Pomeroy 2-1fav (9-4) Led until ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 8l behind The Glamour Cat (9-0) at Wolverhampton 7f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Mind The Monarch 11-1 (8-2) Towards rear, kept on entering final furlong, 4th of 7, 4l behind Marjolly (8-4) at Kempton 6f 3yo clm stks (5) pol.
Mint Whip (IRE) 8-1 (8-2) Chased leader, challenged going well over 2f out, chased winner final furlong, faded and lost 2 places near finish, 4th of 7, 1 1/4l behind Love Delta (9-7) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
