raced in 4th place, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
pressed leader, ridden to lead 2f out, soon headed and no impression, chased winner to inside final furlong, weakened
held up last, headway on outside 2f out, hung left over 1f out, kept on to take 3rd well inside final furlong
tracked leading pair, led well over 1f out, shaken up approaching final furlong, soon clear
took keen hold, held up in 5th, not clear run 2f out, soon switched right, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
led and set steady pace, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened
The trip is something of an imponderable at this stage, but as The Geezer has fewer questions to answer than most of the rest, he gets the vote over Berkhampsted, who will be hard to place off his current rating this term. Fu Manchu landed a useful looking maiden last August and is also respected. Ten furlongs should be okay for him but his yard have been a little slower than usual in getting their runners onto the turf this year and he might just need this. Thunderwing is held in high regard by Karl Burke and it will be no surprise to see him make a bold bid. Burke is a rare visitor to this course so a market move could prove to be significant. Desert Move was the subject of strong support when he made his debut at Thirsk. He obliged in good style on that occasion but this looks tougher and others make slightly more appeal. None more so than The Geezer, whose yard have enjoyed a good spell of late - mostly, like today, when Richard Quinn has been doing the steering.
Berkhamsted (IRE) 20-1 Held up in touch, ridden over 4f out, weakened final 3f, 6th of 8, 24l behind Motivator at Doncaster 1m 2yo Grp 1 (A1) sft in Oct.
Acknowledgement 25-1 Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression until stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Group Captain at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn (D2) pol in Mar.
Fu Manchu 12-1 Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn aut (E) sft in Aug beating Mister Genepi by 1/2l, 18 ran.
The Geezer 7-2jt-fav Held up mid-division, ridden and steady headway from 3f out, hard ridden to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at Kempton 1m 3f 3yo mdn gd in Mar beating Bravemore by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Thunderwing (IRE) 5th of 8, 7l behind Witten at Bordeaux Le Bous 1m lst stk sft in Oct.
Desert Move (IRE) 9-2 Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, ridden out, won at Thirsk 7f 2yo mdn aut (E) gs in Aug beating Nasseem Dubai by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
