slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held up in rear, headway over 3f out on outside, led 2f out, clear 1f out, eased close home
chased leaders, pushed along and lost place over 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, challenged over 2f out, one pace over 1f out, stayed on final 100 yards
held up in mid-division, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, soon headed, no impression on winner from over 1f out, stayed on
led early, tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, tailed off
held up in mid-division, effort and edged left over 2f out, no impression over 1f out
soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
A tricky a handicap on paper as Mr Red Clubs is weighted to reverse running with Musselburgh winner Polar Forest but has yet to win on Turf in 18 attempts. The latter went close again at Wetherby last time while Artful Prince and Derulo were separated by the narrowest of margins when filling the places over course and distance recently. Atlantic Affair is getting closer as she slips down the weights and Ajig was beaten only a head at Brighton last week. But a tentative vote goes to course and distance winner CRAFTSMANSHIP, who also won at Windsor last year and can effectively race off a lower mark today with an apprentice's 7lb allowance taken into account.
Craftsmanship (FR) 50-1 (8-9) Behind, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 7l behind Vivat Rex (8-11) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Polar Forest 6-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway on inside over 2f out, every chance entering final furlong, no impression towards finish, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind In Focus (9-1) at Wetherby 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Apr.
Mr Red Clubs (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Raced wide close up, headway to challenge winner and every chance from over 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Polar Forest (8-11) at Musselburgh 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Apr.
Derulo (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, driven and headed over 1f out, kept on, every chance well inside final furlong, just held, 3rd of 8, hd behind Best Kept (9-1) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr.
Artful Prince 9-2 (9-1) Held up towards rear on outside, ridden and headway over 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, kept on, just held by winner, 2nd of 8, shd behind Best Kept (9-1) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr.
Ajig 5-1 (9-4) Took keen hold, tracked winner 1f, settled in 4th on inside, headway and squeezed through into 2nd entering final furlong, led narrowly well inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 5, hd behind Gannicus (9-2) at Brighton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr.
Tyrsal (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and pressed over 1f out, soon headed, chased leading pair until weakened and lost places final 100 yards, 7th of 10, 2 3/4l behind George Baker (9-3) at Kempton 7f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Apr.
Atlantic Affair (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Led, headed over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Nelson's Bay (8-8) at Musselburgh 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf.