pushed along halfway, always in rear
held up in rear, shaken up and headway 2f out, staying on when not clear run inside final furlong
held up and always in rear
slowly away, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer
chased leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride and held up in rear, headway on outside 2f out, driven to challenge inside final furlong, led narrowly towards finish, caught last stride
in touch over 4f
with leaders, challenged 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, narrowly headed towards finish, rallied gamely to regain lead last stride
chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened
with leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
chased leaders on outside over 4f
chased leaders on outside, driven 2f out, kept on but not pace of front pair final furlong
led, ridden and headed entering final furlong, no extra
Three year old handicaps at this time of the year prove next to impossible to solve with various barriers needing to be overcome but those that make the shortlist include Hustle, Kal Berg, Almoutaz and Fifteen Love deserving of consideration and Kal Barg gets the tentative nomination. The lack of recent form, horses improving from two to three, soft ground and handicap marks are number of factors that need to be taken into consideration but Kal Barg is one that ticks a number of the right boxes. The winner of a Doncaster nursery on his final outing, a third in an Ascot nursery behind Ibn Khaldun reads particularly well and the winter under his belt he could be a very well handicapped sort. Hustle has the benefit of a recent outing, winning a muddling Lingfield handicap last month. Untried on a slower surface, that is the unknown. Almoutaz rounded off last season with a victory in a Newmarket maiden and the step up to 7f will suit it appears. Fifteen Love was a bitter disappointment in the Horris Hill when unable to cope with the testing conditions and is likely to be seen to more effect when the ground dries out. Pravda Street hails from the Paul Cole yard, a stable that have hit the ground running this turf season and is an unknown quantity having landed a Folkestone maiden earlier this month. Kal Barg gets the vote to land this wide open handicap.
Fifteen Love (USA) 11-2 (8-12) Prominent on stand side, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased when beaten, last of 11, 26l behind Beacon Lodge (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Choose Your Moment 15-8fav (9-7) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, made all inside final furlong, kept on well, won at York 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sept beating La Chicaluna (9-1) by 3l, 10 ran.
Seeking Star (IRE) 11-2 (8-11) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced, 9th of 10, 10l behind Vhujon (8-8) at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Ramona Chase 40-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, always towards rear of centre group, 10th of 11, 23l behind Beacon Lodge (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Kal Barg 7-4fav (8-10) Raced centre, tracked leader, led over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on well, won at Doncaster 7f 2yo hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Flowing Cape (9-0) by 2l, 15 ran.
Generous Thought 4-1fav (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, driven and edged left over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Doncaster 6f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Nov beating Rash Judgement (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 18 ran.
Perfect Act 8-1 (8-12) Behind, headway to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, faded final furlong, 4th of 10, 5l behind Lady Deauville (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo lst stk (1) sft in Oct.
Huzzah (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Led centre group and overall leader, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 4th of 15, 7l behind Kal Barg (8-10) at Doncaster 7f 2yo hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Aye Aye Digby (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, one pace final furlong, 5th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Floristry (9-7) at York 6f 2yo hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Pravda Street 4-1 (8-12) Made all, ridden 2f out, quickened approaching final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Folkestone 7f mdn stk (5) sft beating Glorious Gift (8-12) by 5l, 13 ran.
Hustle (IRE) 10-3 (9-0) Raced keenly, prominent, driven to lead over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Mar beating Maslaha (9-1) by 1l, 6 ran.
Almoutaz (USA) 3-1 (9-3) Led centre, ridden to lead overall over 1f out, ran on well, won at Newmarket 6f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Nov beating The Gatekeeper (9-3) by 1l, 11 ran.
Keep Discovering (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, effort and hung left over 1f out, stayed on strongly close home, 4th of 6, 3l behind Hustle (9-0) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Clifton Dancer 33-1 (8-12) Raced alone far side, in touch to 3f out, weakening when hung right well over 1f out to centre course, 8th of 10, 16l behind Lady Deauville (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo lst stk (1) sft in Oct.
Dusty Moon 14-1 (9-0) Keen early, held up, ridden over 2f out, no impression, last of 7, 8l behind Sense of Joy (9-0) at Goodwood 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug.
Fly Kiss 33-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 5l behind Sense of Joy (9-0) at Goodwood 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug.
