behind, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
keen hold, held up, headway going well over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders on outer, driven along halfway, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, strong run under pressure final furlong, led final 100 yards, caught near finish
in touch until weakened over 2f out
took keen hold, pressed leaders, weakened entering final furlong
chased leaders over 3f
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out
chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
held up in rear, some headway final furlong, no danger
keen hold, in touch, effort over 1f out, no extra final furlong
pressed leaders, driven over 2f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, good headway towards stands rail over 1f out, strong run final furlong, led near finish
held up in rear, good headway on stand rail over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, finished well
narrow lead in centre, ridden and headed final 100 yards, no extra
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Pic Up Sticks gets the vote over Bird Over, with Lake Chini, Exmoor and Nautical all expected to be in the shake-up in an open handicap. Pic Up Sticks teamed up with Richard Quinn for the first time at Goodwood a fortnight ago, the pair finishing second to Romany Nights. That was the gelding's first outing since September, and the former Mick Channon inmate is taken to find the necessary improvement to go one better off what at present is a better mark than he was racing off two years ago. Bird Over won off 82 at Kempton at the start of the month and so seem to be progressing. She has a squeak but that last victory was in an all-fillies' affair and she will have to be at her best today. Lake Chini hails from a stable in fair form and has plenty of placed form to his name so has to be considered, while Exmoor was found out by the very strong pace at Pontefract last month and can be given another chance to show what he can do. Nautical caught the eye in defeat at Windsor, making rapid headway inside the final furlong, and he is another that can be fancied for the frame at least, especially if the pace is on the stands side. In a hard one to call, we return to Pic Up Sticks as the answer.
Bird Over 10-3 (9-3) Held up , headway over 1f out, chased leading pair inside final furlong, ran on to lead near finish, won at Kempton 6f fll hcp (4) pol beating Sahara Silk (8-1) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Pic Up Sticks 7-1 (10-0) Held up in mid-division, headway travelling well 2f out, ran on final furlong to take 2nd last strides but no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Romany Nights (9-6) at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Mutawaqed (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Always in rear division stands' side, 21st of 23, 30l behind Ice Planet (8-7) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Wrighty Almighty (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Chased leader far side, ridden 3f out, weakened 1f out, 10th of 14, 7l behind Ocean Gift (8-13) at Goodwood 6f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Buy On The Red 11-1 (9-8) Keen hold, steadied in rear, well behind final 2f, last of 15, 18l behind Romany Nights (9-6) at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Kingscross 12-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, soon in mid-division on rail, ridden 2f out and soon weakened, 12th of 15, 13l behind Romany Nights (9-6) at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Pure Imagination (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon one pace, 6th of 14, 5l behind Commando Scott (8-10) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Malapropism 6-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 13, 5l behind Trinculo (8-10) at Beverley 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Apr.
Danzig River (IRE) 11-1 (9-4) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 3l behind Malcheek (9-9) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-85 (4) frm.
Royal Orissa 25-1 (9-2) Dwelt, soon in touch, outpaced over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 7th of 14, 6l behind Sir Desmond (8-12) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-80 (4) sft.
Lake Chini (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Swinbrook (9-1) at Leicester 6f hcap (4) gd in Apr.
Logsdail 7-1 (9-4) Behind, some headway final furlong, no danger, 10th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Quantum Leap (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcap (5) std.
Oranmore Castle (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Led against near side rail, headed over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, soon weakened, 8th of 15, 9l behind Romany Nights (9-6) at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Briannsta (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) In touch until weakened over 2f out, 11th of 15, 13l behind Romany Nights (9-6) at Goodwood 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Exmoor 5-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened final furlong, 12th of 15, 14l behind Zomerlust (9-12) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Apr.
Nautical 15-2 (8-8) Held up, not clear run just inside 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on well, 2nd of 14, hd behind Sir Desmond (8-12) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-80 (4) sft.
Ingleton 10-1 (8-11) Held up, effort on outside when hung left from over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Sir Desmond (8-12) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-80 (4) sft.
Born To Be Bold 14-1 (8-8) Chased leaders over 2f, no impression when edged left over 1f out, 11th of 14, 10l behind Sir Desmond (8-12) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-80 (4) sft.