prominent, ridden over 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression in 3rd from over 1f out
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression with winner final furlong
tracked leaders, headway to lead over 1f out, driven clear final furlong, kept on
tracked leaders, driven over 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, no chance with leaders from over 1f out
close up, driven 3f out, lost place over 1f out, soon ridden, behind final furlong
Rashford's Double reversed earlier form at Musselburgh with Nepeta to win over track and trip recently but there looks little between that pair on today’s terms. Anythingknappen has won a maiden at Thirsk and this is easier than last month’s handicap debut in Class 2 company at Ayr while Upgrade and CHOCOLATE BOX go handicapping for the first time. The former has failed to improve on an earlier second at Haydock in a couple of subsequent outings and headgear is applied for the first time here so the vote goes to Luca Cumani’s colt with further progress expected from him.
Chocolate Box (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Chased leader 2f, chased leaders, weakened approaching final furlong, lost modest 4th last strides, 5th of 6, 3 1/4l behind Camerone (9-0) at Brighton 1m mdn stks (5) gd in Oct.
Upgrade 7-2 (9-5) Chased leader, edging left when slightly hampered and lost 2nd over 1f out, soon switched left, ridden edged left and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Munawer (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct.
Rashford's Double (IRE) 5-2fav (9-0) Held up, in rear, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Newcastle 1m (5) pol in Oct beating Nepeta (9-5) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Nepeta (USA) 5-1 (9-5) Led until over 2f out, rallied and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Rashford's Double (9-0) at Newcastle 1m (5) pol in Oct.
Anythingknappen (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Dwelt, behind, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 14 1/2l behind Now Children (9-7) at Ayr 1m (2) gs in Sep.