pulled hard, chased winner after 2f, ridden 2f out, no impression and edged left inside final furlong
held up in touch, pushed along halfway, ridden and weakened 3f out
led after 2f, made rest, ridden and stayed on strongly final furlong
led 2f, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out
always in rear
in rear, ridden over 3f out, wide and headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
raced wide, held up, improved to 4th 8f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
raced wide, mid-division, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
dwelt, towards rear, ridden 4f out, effort over 3f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, ridden 4f out, no impression
IL PORTICO looked value for more than the official winning margin last time and can score on his return to turf from Cornish Beau and Mnarani. Our selection did well to score on his handicap debut at Wolverhampton, in the process leaving behind the form he showed when last racing on the turf. The key to the improvement looked to be the step up to this trip and chances are he's got plenty more to offer and can defy this 5lb higher mark, especially now the yard are beginning to find form. Cornish Beau ran with credit on his handicap debut in November and has claims on his return. He's shown conditions to be no problem in the past but does have to prove he stays this far, so on balance is worth taking on. A bigger threat may emerge in the shape of Mnarani for Stan Moore, a horse who went close in a fair handicap for the grade a couple of starts ago. He'll be at home under these conditions but has gone up in the ratings in defeat which might again keep him from winning. Ting Ting needs a market check on her return as this will be her handicap debut and she showed promise as a juvenile, whilst the more exposed High Rolling could run into a place with this step up in trip to suit. Second Brook was well behind Il Portico when the pair met and it's Mick Channon's gelding who gets the vote to go in again.
Iron Condor 80-1 (8-1) Always towards rear, 17th of 19, 22l behind Antoniola (8-6) at Doncaster 1m 2yo hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Mnarani (IRE) 9-2 (8-2) Tracked leader, hard driven and effort over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 2 3/4l behind Exceedthewildman (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Cornish Beau (IRE) 13-2 (8-9) In touch, went 3rd halfway, ridden 3f out, stayed on to take 2nd post, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Tres Coronas (9-2) at Southwell 1m 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Nov.
Ice Viking (IRE) 100-1 (9-3) Raced centre, always behind, 14th of 16, 14l behind Coordinated Cut (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo aut stk (2) gd.
High Rolling 7-1 (9-6) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, kept on one pace final 2f, 5th of 17, 8l behind Fantastic Pick (9-5) at Redcar 1m 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sep.
Meetings Man (IRE) 100-1 (8-5) Behind, ridden over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, never nearer, 7th of 13, 10l behind Dolphin Rock (8-10) at Thirsk 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Il Portico 4-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 6f out, led well over 3f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, held on well towards finish, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar beating Port Hill (9-2) by hd, 8 ran.
Ting Ting (USA) 40-1 (8-12) Rushed up on outside to lead after 1f, pushed along 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakend rapidly, last of 12, 20l behind Start Right (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Oct.
Anchorage Boy (USA) 25-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 9l behind Rock A Doodle Doo (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Red Valerian Two (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders early, soon outpaced, never a factor, 4th of 9, 21l behind Ibn Hiyyan (9-4) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Second Brook (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Prominent, hard driven over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 47l behind Ibn Hiyyan (9-4) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
