outpaced towards rear, ridden halfway, stayed on final furlong
mid-division, pushed along halfway, weakened 2f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
dwelt, towards rear, headway over 1f out, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened and eased well over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, outpaced towards rear, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous
held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
keen, tracked leaders to halfway
always towards rear and outpaced
mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, edged left entering final furlong, kept on to lead towards finish
led, ridden clear over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, headed towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
Up Tempo is our choice in a competitive-looking handicap with Piccolo Prince, Bundy and Hula Ballew worth noting. Up Tempo will be fit from a winter, all-weather campaign and he comes here with a real chance having won a Wolverhampton-handicap off a higher mark in February. He handles soft ground and with Jamie Spencer on board he will take all the beating. Piccolo Prince is another who has spent the winter racing on the all-weather and he put in his best performance when second at Southwell in February. He has winning form on soft ground and he is another who could take advantage of a drop in the handicap. Of the others, Bundy is a course and distance winner but Piccolo Prince holds him on form from a race at Hamilton last June. Hula Ballew's record of three wins in 43 attempts is not anything to get too excited about but she is another dropping down the handicap and won a Carlisle-handicap last August. Tagula Bay for the Tim Easterby-yard and Alexia Rose for the Alan Berry-stable have chances but our selection is Up Tempo.
Word Perfect 25-1 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Scotland The Brave (8-8) at Ayr 7f fll hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
Exponential (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) Held up, headway over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakend over 2f out, last of 12, 14l behind Bessemer (9-0) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Tagula Bay (IRE) 20-1 (8-1) Always mid-division, never nearer, 13th of 18, 18l behind Raymond's Pride (8-12) at Ayr 6f hcp 0-80 (4) hvy in Oct.
Up Tempo (IRE) 7-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Gilded Cove (8-12) at W'hampton 6f clm (6) pol in Mar.
Alexia Rose (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 11, 5l behind Sweet Pickle (8-10) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Mar.
Shannon Arms (USA) 12-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Desert Lover (8-3) at W'hampton 7f hcap (5) pol in Mar.
Hula Ballew 10-1 (9-2) In touch, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakened 2f out, 7th of 15, 3l behind Orpen Wide (9-1) at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Oct.
Witchelle 9-1 (8-12) Led, ridden 2f out, headed and no extra entering final furlong, 5th of 8, 3l behind Missperon (8-1) at Southwell 6f fll hcp (5) fbs in Feb.
Bundy 12-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Piccolo Prince (9-3) at Hamilton 6f hcp (5) gs in Jun.
Obe One 33-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never able to challenge, last of 8, 4 1/2l behind The Bonus King (9-0) at Carlisle 7f stk 0-65 (5) gf in Aug.
Maromito (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Chased leader, ridden to challenge and every chance approaching final furlong, no extra final furlong, 4th of 13, 2l behind Law Maker (8-6) at Catterick 5f hcp (5) frm in Jun.
King of Meze (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Raced stand side, dwelt, soon chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 8th of 18, 6l behind Mugeba (8-7) at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-60 (6) hvy in Nov.
Piccolo Prince 7-2 (8-4) Dwelt, headway 2f out, soon every chance, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Soba Jones (8-11) at Southwell 6f hcp (6) fbs in Feb.
Mynd 11-1 (8-6) Towards rear, never on terms, 7th of 10, 8l behind Maktavish (9-7) at Southwell 5f app clm (6) fbs in Jan.
Hamaasy 14-1 (9-6) Always behind, 16th of 17, 10l behind Ballybunion (9-3) at Catterick 5f hcp (6) gf in Aug.
Estoille 100-1 (8-3) Behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 3l behind Neverletme Go (9-0) at Nottingham 5f fll hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Four Amigos (USA) 9-1 (8-11) Prominent for 3f, 10th of 13, 14l behind Efistorm (9-4) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Mar.
Piccleyes 18-1 (8-6) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead just over 1f out, headed and weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 4l behind Sweetest Revenge (9-3) at W'hampton 6f handicap (6) pol in Mar.
