led, headed halfway down back straight, disputed lead 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra final furlong
midfield on outer, ridden to lead 2f out, headed close home
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, faded 2f out
towards rear, progress entering home straight, pushed along 2f out, stayed on to lead close home
held up in last, still travelling well on outer 2f out, ridden before final furlong, no extra close home
Great Esteem won a novices' races at Kempton before returning a losing favourite on his handicap debut here when third behind MADEEH. The latter has subsequently landed a course and distance double beating Systemic in the process and looks worth sticking with in his current frame of mind. My Girl Maggie has gone close again since recording a double at Wolverhampton and is preferred to maiden winner Red Missile and the returning Al Kout of the remainder.
My Girl Maggie 4-5fav (9-9) Led, ridden over 1f out, edged right and bumped rival well inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 7, shd behind Combine (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Great Esteem (IRE) 6-5fav (9-12) Led, headed before halfway, led narrowly 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Madeeh (8-9) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Red Missile (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Midfield, dropped towards rear over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 7th of 11, 11 1/4l behind Newtown Boy (11-4) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Jan.
Al Kout 10-3 (9-6) Led and raced keenly, soon clear, steadied pace halfway, quickened 3f out, reduced lead over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, joined and kept on inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Imperium (9-12) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Madeeh 5-2 (9-2) Chased leaders, closed over 4f out, challenged from 2f out, led entering final furlong, stayed on, won at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Feb beating Alborkan (9-2) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Systemic 6-5fav (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, dropped to 3rd and unable to quicken when edged left over 1f out, held after, kept on, 3rd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Madeeh (9-2) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Feb.