held up in last pair, never on terms
mid-division on rail, headway and switched left over 1f out, ridden and stayed on into 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner
held up towards rear, headway out wide 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened soon after
raced keenly, soon tracking leader, edged left over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well
mid-division, closer on outside 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
restless in stalls, tracked leaders on rail, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, 4th and one pace inside final furlong
raced keenly, led on far rail ridden and headed over 1f out, no chance with winner when lost 2nd final 100 yards, no extra in 3rd
raced keenly tracking leaders, slightly distracted steadied off heels and switched left over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
awkwardly away, held up last, headway between horses over 1f out, plugged on inside final furlong
always towards rear, never on terms
NonRunner
An impossible-looking handicap to end proceedings. Many have been running on the all-weather and doing their winning on artificial surfaces but Newcastle scorer Crossford is making his handicap debut as is the hat-trick seeking Bullace, who ran well on Turf at Sandown on his debut. Spirit Of Bermuda is a pound lower than when second at Pontefract in September but, despite winning at Kempton in January, Melody Of Life doesn’t look that progressive. We’ll take a chance on FOREVER FORWARD, who ran well in a couple of starts at Sandown last summer and may have been let in lightly on a mark of 82. Balearic makes more appeal than Without Revenge of the remainder.
Choritzo 6-1 (9-8) Held up, ridden 2f out, headway 1f out, ran on well to take second inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Zwelela (9-1) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (4) pol in Apr.
Crossford (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Made all, led narrowly, pushed along 2f out, a length lead and ridden entering final furlong, kept on gamely, just held on, won at Newcastle 7f stks (4) pol in Oct beating Cordouan (9-5) by shd, 12 ran.
Rogue Force (IRE) 5-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along and unable to quicken 2f out, ridden and ran on to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Rafiki (9-9) at Lingfield 1m stks (5) pol in Mar.
Bullace 2-1fav (9-6) Made all, ridden 2f out, ran on well, won at Kempton 7f stks (5) pol in Nov beating Nine Tales (9-2) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Forever Forward (IRE) 18-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden for effort over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 11, 3 3/4l behind Just Fine (9-5) at Sandown 1m stks (4) gd in Sep.
Spirit Of Bermuda (IRE) 4-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Soft Whisper (9-7) at Pontefract 1m fll (4) sft in Sep.
Wobwobwob (IRE) 18-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, not clear run over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Letmelivemylife (9-6) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Balearic (IRE) 7-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, closed 3f out, led 2f out, driven over 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, held on well, won at Newcastle 7f hcp (5) pol in Mar beating Air To Air (9-7) by nk, 10 ran.
Willyorwon't He 20-1 (8-11) Held up, pushed along over 2f out, soon made rapid headway, flashed home for narrow 2nd final strides, 2nd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Imperial Sands (8-11) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Distinction (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Gordonstoun (9-6) at Nottingham 1m (5) sft in Nov.
Without Revenge 11-2 (9-5) Close up, pushed along and headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m stks (5) pol in Nov beating Mummy's Boy (9-5) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Melody Of Life (IRE) 8-11fav (8-10) Chased leader, led inside final 2f, all out, won at Kempton 7f stks (5) pol in Jan beating Vivency (9-9) by 1/2l, 10 ran.