steadied and dropped in rear after start, switched right to outside 3f out, challenged and hung badly left from 2f out, kept on reluctantly to go 3rd over 1f out
tracked leaders, under pressure 6f out, weakened and behind over 3f out
tracked leading trio, reminders 5f out, ridden to lead 3f out, pressed 2f out, soon headed, kept on same pace from over 1f out
tracked leader until over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in rear, headway travelling well over 3f out, challenged 2f out, soon led, stayed on well final furlong
always towards rear, weakened 3f out, tailed off
mid-division, steady headway 4f out to get in behind leaders 3f out, weakened 2f out
led, pushed along and headed 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in mid-division, headway to 2nd travelling well over 2f out, led briefly 2f out, chased winner after, no impression final furlong
towards rear, headway over 4f out to get in behind leaders 3f out, weakened over 1f out
always behind
towards rear, driven along on outside 4f out, weakened under pressure over 2f out
The penultimate race on the card will be run over the marathon trip of two miles and HINDU KUSH can hopefully outgun Soundbyte and French Hollow. Jamie Spencer gets the leg up on the Ian Williams horse and the pair should go close. He was backed like defeat was out of the question on his last run but pulled too hard in the early stages and flattened out approaching the finish line. That run should have brought him on and with Spencer to settle him he should take full advantage of his dropping handicap mark. Soundbyte has been in good form recently and should go well again. He won nicely by five lengths on his last start and a five pound hike in the weights will make life tougher but he should go well. French Hollow has been in good form in both codes and Jimmy Fortune is an interesting jockey booking. The step up to two mils on the flat should suit. Others to note are Sally Forth for Roger Charlton and Steve Drowne and Sweetheart from the Jamie Poulton yard. Hindu Kush gets the nod today though and should go close.
Hindu Kush (IRE) 11-8fav (8-3) Pulled hard, soon tracked leading pair on outside, headway to press leader over 6f out, led still pulling 4f out, headed 2f out, carried head awkwardly and beaten when dropped to 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Yes Mr President (9-11) at Ffos Las 2m hcp 0-105 (2) gs.
Sally Forth 9-2 (9-4) Chased leader over 4f out, weakened 3f out, last of 5, 20l behind Dazinski (9-2) at Nottingham 2m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Sweetheart 7-2fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 9, 9l behind Alsadaa (9-12) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Gremlin 5-2fav (9-3) Tracked leaded, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar beating Star Choice (9-9) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Satwa Gold (USA) 7-2 (9-3) Close up in 4th, effort to press leaders over 1f out, soon every chance until weakened final 100 yards, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Sinbad The Sailor (9-1) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Duke of Burgundy (FR) 9-2 (9-5) Held up in rear, good headway to track leaders 3f out, ridden to press leaders over 1f out, weakened and no extra final furlong, 6th of 10, 8l behind Gunslinger (9-5) at Nottingham 1m 2f mdn stks 0-80 (5) gs in Oct.
Soundbyte 9-4 (9-0) Tracked leaders until 8f out, progress to chase leader 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Kempton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Oxford City (9-3) by 5l, 5 ran.
Doubnov (FR) 10-11fav (8-11) Raced wide, in touch in rear, progress to chase leader over 3f out until over 1f out, ridden and weakened, 4th of 6, 9l behind King's Masque (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks (5) pol in Mar.
Devil To Pay 12-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous, 11th of 14, 11l behind Crocus Rose (8-7) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
French Hollow Evensfav (9-7) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, took 2nd last stride, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Two Oclock John (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 5f mdn stks (5) pol in Feb.
Aureate 16-1 (8-12) Led 1f, tracked leader, weakened final furlong, last of 8, 7l behind Turjuman (8-11) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) std in Mar.
Ned Ludd (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, soon lost place, no impression final furlong, 7th of 10, 5l behind Kristallo (9-6) at Kempton 2m hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Feb.
Calculating (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Led, headed over 6f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Stanstill (9-9) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (0-90) (3) fbs in Mar.
