held up mid-division when hampered after 3f, pushed along and switched right over 3f out, headway to lead over 1f out, ran on final furlong, easily
led, headed after 5f, remained in touch until weakened 2f out
held up, smooth progress to go prominent over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten when eased over 1f out
towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, some late headway, never near to challenge
mid-division, effort over 3f out, soon behind
in touch, driven along over 3f out, soon beaten
prominent, lost ground over 7f out, pushed along and headway over 3f out, one pace final 2f
jumped awkwardly at start, towards rear and never a factor
held up, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and one pace final 2f
mid-division until outpaced over 4f out
in touch, chased along over 4f out, effort when weakened over 2f out
prominent, steady progress over 2f out, ridden and one pace final 2f
towards rear, headway to lead over 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, no extra final furlong
Nonrunner
Another decent handicap, which might take a bit of winning and ones for the short list are Far Pavilions, Calamintha, Flotta and Inchpast, and we take Flotta to do the business. Brendan Powell's gelding will love this fast ground, and can perform at this trip, as evidenced by his Doncaster defeat of Gralmano in 2003, which was off the same mark as today's. A recent Lingfield polytrack run confirmed his wellbeing and we take him to come good again here. Far Pavilions will be popular after his win over this trip at Catterick last month, and he has claims on ground he too enjoys. However, an 8lb rise will make this much more difficult. Martin Pipe's mare Calamintha won over course and distance doing handstands last time out and will have support too, but faster ground and an even more significant 16lb rise make this look a different proposition. Mark Tompkins did a tremendous job with Inchpast last season, and he has risen 22lb in the weights since winning at Yarmouth last July. Trip and ground will suit, but with an extra 4lb for his last win and the fact that he has yet to win first time, we will oppose here and stick with Flotta to land the prize.
Far Pavilions 4-1 (9-6) Held up, headway over 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on final furlong, won at Catterick 1m 6f hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Greenwich Meantime (8-7) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Calamintha 4-1jt-fav (9-8) Made all, ridden clear over 3f out, 10 lengths clears 1f out, soon eased, won at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (6) gs in Apr beating My Legal Eagle (9-1) by 5l, 14 ran.
Flotta 17-2 (9-0) Took keen hold, soon tracked leader, led briefly 1f out, chased winner after, strong challenge near finish, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Jack of Trumps (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Apr.
Trance (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Mid-division, outpaced over 4f out, soon beaten, last of 11, well behind Malarkey (9-3) at Thirsk 2m hcp (4) gd.
Sharadi (IRE) 6-1fav (9-8) Always in rear, 14th of 17, 30l behind Dickie Deadeye (8-8) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Thewhirlingdervish (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 13, 9l behind Far Pavilions (9-6) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Mandatum 7-1 (9-9) Led, headed over 11f out, ridden to chase leader 2f out, weakened, 8th of 17, 13l behind Dickie Deadeye (8-8) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Heatherlea Laird (NZ) His Royal Highness gelding out of Misty Gleam.
Kristensen 7-2 (9-4) Prominent, pushed along over 6f out, outpaced over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 11, 12l behind Malarkey (9-3) at Thirsk 2m hcp (4) gd.
Inchpast 7-4fav (9-1) Held up mid-division, close up 5f out, headway to lead 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (E3) frm in Sept beating Most Definitely (9-1) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Red Forest (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 16l behind Winged d'Argent (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (D2) sft in Oct.
Masterman Ready 3-1fav (9-5) Led, ridden and hung left over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, nk behind Screenplay (8-12) at Folkestone 1m 7f hcp (5) sft in Apr.
Nawow 6-1 (9-4) In touch, driven to chase leading pair over 1f out, no impression final furlong, lost two places near finish, 5th of 14, 5l behind Turnstile (9-9) at Kempton 1m 6f hcp (5) gd.
Charmatic (IRE) 6-1 (8-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go second well inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Eastborough (8-12) at Warwick 1m 5f hcp (5) gs in Apr.
My Legal Eagle (IRE) 13-2 (9-6) Held up, ridden over 3f out, one pace and no impression final furlong, 6th of 12, 6l behind Seifi (7-11) at Beverley 2m hcp (5) gd.
