switched right start, held up in touch, effort approaching final furlong, soon one pace
in touch, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed near finish
tracked leader, weakened 3f out
mid-division, ridden 4f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on same pace
towards rear, ridden over 4f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, eased inside final furlong
pulled hard, held up, never dangerous
never better than mid-division
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, driven to lead near finish
rider lost irons and bolted to start, in rear, tailed off from halfway
tracked leaders, chased leader over 2f out, led 1f out, soon headed and no extra
led 9f, weakened final furlong
held up, smooth headway over 2f out, soon riden and one pace
mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden and weakened final furlong
in touch, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
raced wide in touch, weakened over 2f out
Ghantoot can follow up his recent win in this handicap, with Kalou, Ember Days and Planters Punch capable of making a race of it. The selection won at Brighton last time out no similar ground and from the same stall one berth. He clearly relishes this trip and although the track is somewhat different he ran well enough on a long straight at Redcar prior to that to suggest it will be no problem. Darryll Holland can again get the best out of him and he looks capable of pulling out enough to defy a 6lb penalty. Planters Punch looks likely to go well again for Kieren Fallon. However, his win at Leicester three runs ago left him in the grip of the handicapper and it is doubtful that a 1lb drop will be sufficient to give him a winning chance here. Kalou tries his luck back on the level after a Market Rasen jumps win last time. He is clearly in good heart, gets this trip well and acts on a sound surface, so with his shrewd trainer behind him we should have a peep at the market to see what sort of confidence is behind his chances here. That aside, he clearly will be no back number and can go well. Of the others, Ember Days might give the selection most to do. Due to go up by 6lb from the weekend, Richard Hannon's mare has been consistent over this trip on fast ground in three runs this month. A short head winner from Todlea at Bath the other week, she again ran well when penalised last time out in third, and the time to catch her before a further rise looks to be now. She can go very well here, but for the selection we will side with Ghantoot.
