in touch, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace approaching final furlong, no impression
raced keenly in touch, driven 2f out, kept on same pace
led 2f, with leader, lost place over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong
in touch, outpaced 2f out, weakening when hampered over 1f out
behind, pushed along 4f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with leading pair
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong
mid-division, headway 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on under pressure to lead towards finish
in touch, led after 2f, ridden hard pressed over 1f out, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish
always towards rear
dwelt, in rear, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off
raced keenly, with leaders, effort over 2f out, soon ridden, lost place
prominent, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened
behind when broke leg, pulled up over 2f out
A large field for this opening contest and plenty of pace options so we'll take a chance on ASTROLIBRA following up her recent Yarmouth win; handicap good thing Timocracy and Can Can Star make the shortlist. Mark Tompkins has won this race twice in the last five years and has a live chance down at the bottom of the weights with Astrolibra. Ashley Morgan is a good young rider who is a bonus on the yard's horses and he rode this filly to victory last time. Whilst this race looks tougher, she looks sure to get the strong pace she needs and as long as the ground doesn't deteriorate she looks worth chancing. Timocracy has a 6lb penalty today but after a five length romp at Brighton on his handicap debut that rise will be a lot more in the future when reassessed. Kimono My House also has a penalty for a recent win at Leicester on desperate ground. His jockey is two from two on him so she is an added bonus in this race. Princess Flame has a hit a purple patch recently so is another who will be high on many a shortlist. Expect Paradise Walk and Ergo to improve on their recent reappearance runs, whilst the same applies to Can Can Star. It is a fortnight since he returned to action at Great Leighs; that was a no-show but he looks sure to improve for it and he had some good form last season on varying ground. Top Tiger is a stablemate of the selection and must be watched in the betting especially in comparison to his friend; however we will stick with Astrolibra to small stakes.
Can Can Star 16-1 (9-6) Chased leader until over 1f out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 21l behind Cupid's Glory (9-3) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Paradise Walk 16-1 (9-11) Always towards rear and eased over 1f out, last of 6, well behind Red Fama (8-9) at Beverley 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Aug.
Kimono My House 8-1 (9-1) Raced wide, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Leicester 1m 2f app hcp (5) hvy beating Princess Flame (9-6) by a nk, 11 ran.
Chicken George (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Dwelt and soon prominent, reminders over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 12, 23l behind Myfrenchconnection (8-13) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Aug.
Top Tiger 9-2 (9-2) Pulled hard in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 5th of 7, 12l behind Grande Caiman (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Trouble Mountain (USA) 33-1 (8-10) In touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 29l behind Deep Winter (8-6) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Aug.
Dan Tucker 7-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, weakened 2f out, 4th of 7, 11l behind Hurlingham (9-4) at Hamilton 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Princess Flame (GER) 16-1 (9-6) Slowly away, headway to chase leader 7f out, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged right and headed inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, nk behind Kimono My House (9-1) at Leicester 1m 2f app hcp (5) hvy.
Timocracy 16-1 (9-2) Led, headed after 1f, stayed prominent, ridden 2f out, led again 1f out, ran on, won at Brighton 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) sft beating Cwm Rhondda (8-9) by 5l, 9 ran.
Ergo (FR) 40-1 (11-2) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 13, 9l behind Keisha Kayleigh (10-12) at Hamilton 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs in May.
Byron Bay 12-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden along halfway, some late headway, never reached challenging position, 7th of 12, 16l behind Hula Ballew (9-5) at Thirsk 1m hcap (5) gs in Jun.
Saluscraggie 14-1 (9-2) Mid-division on outside, headway 3f out, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure final furlong, 4th of 9, 3l behind Sudden Impulse (9-13) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Aug.
Coral Shores 4-1 (9-4) Prominent and keen, led after 1f, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Timocracy (9-2) at Brighton 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) sft.
Astrolibra 7-2fav (8-13) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Yarmouth 1m 2f app hcp (6) gs in Aug beating Wicked Lady (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Street Life (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Dwelt, soon chasing leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 12l behind Right Stuff (9-9) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Aug.
Ahlawy (IRE) 9-2 (9-11) Towards rear, effort 3f out, no impression, 6th of 10, 15l behind Jafra (8-2) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jul.
Jackie Kiely 14-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 14l behind Kimono My House (9-1) at Leicester 1m 2f app hcp (5) hvy.
