made all, ridden 2f out, stayed on gamely
dwelt, held up, effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong
always in rear
tracked winner, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked winner, ridden and every chance over 1f out, edged left and kept on same pace final furlong
prominent, ridden 2f out, hung left and kept on one pace inside final furlong
tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 4th near finish
tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
steadied start, mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
dwelt, in rear, headway and carried head awkwardly over 1f out, challenged winner inside final furlong, not quicken near finish
A cracking start to the card and a race that has been a graveyard for favourites in the past decade. It is interesting that last year's winning trainer Andrew Balding chooses to give Lingfield maiden winner HIGHLAND KNIGHT his handicap debut in a race as competitive as this and we will take the hint, while Sea Lord, Dance East and Sweet Child O' Mine all have claims. The selection went well when runner-up on the Rowley Course in an above-average maiden back in May, and was then stepped back up to this trip to win on the Polytrack with some authority. His in-form trainer can be trusted to know what is required here and this progressive colt may well be up to winning this off a mark of 87. Sea Lord is proven in this grade and comes here in great form, having landed three of his last four starts. He loves fast ground and has his optimum trip here, and he will take some beating if allowed to dominate as he did at the Curragh last time, for which he is up 6lbs. Dance East has been raised the same amount by the assessor after winning on her handicap introduction at Windsor last month. She chases a hat-trick today and the excellent Jeremy Noseda should have her primed and ready to go very well. Sweet Child O' Mine may not have a winning profile, but after some very solid form in fast ground handicaps each-way thieves will be taking an understandable interest, while Finest Reserve surely has frame claims after being dropped 2lbs since his Ayr run. King Of Windsor won a maiden at that same Scottish track with plenty of conviction, and he looks well capable of improvement for this step-up to a mile on ground that suits, and Mr Irons is also capable of getting very competitive. A really good handicap and Highland Knight looks the most interesting in the field.
Sea Lord (IRE) 4-1fav (8-11) Made all, ridden clear over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Curragh 1m hcp gf in Jun beating Scandal Sheet (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 20 ran.
Musaafer (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Raced center, came stands' side after 2f, close up, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 6th of 12, 6l behind Oasis Dancer (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May.
No Hubris (USA) 22-1 (9-7) Held up in mid-division, under pressure over 3f out, soon no impression, last of 7, 17l behind Breakheart (8-2) at Ayr 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
Colepeper 8-1 (9-7) Prominent, ridden over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, 5th of 6, 10l behind Decorative (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Jun.
Dance East 15-8fav (9-6) Chased leaders led going well 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, held on near finish, won at Windsor 1m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun beating Kajima (9-5) by hd, 8 ran.
Highland Knight (IRE) 6-5fav (9-3) Made virtually all, in command over 1f out, pushed clear final furlong, eased near finish, won at Lingfield 1m 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Jun beating Zakiy (9-3) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Karaka Jack 5-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 8l behind Mahadee (9-5) at Salisbury 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
King Of Windsor (IRE) 4-6fav (9-0) Soon steadied, held up towards rear, switched right over 2f out, good headway to lead just over 1f out, pushed clear, readily, won at Ayr 7f mdn stks (5) gf in Jun beating Viking Warrior (9-3) by 5l, 8 ran.
Mr Irons (USA) 3-1 (9-4) Led after 1f, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Fontley (9-8) at Sandown 1m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
Finest Reserve (IRE) 10-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, behind, some late headway, stayed on well inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Breakheart (8-2) at Ayr 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
First Cat 8-1 (9-4) In rear, ridden and headway approaching 1f out, stayed on, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Fontley (9-8) at Sandown 1m 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
Sweet Child O'mine 12-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 15, 5l behind Suited And Booted (9-6) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
