tracked leaders, pulled hard early, switched right to challenge 2f out, soon led, drew clear entering final furlong, easily
led driven and headed well over 1f out, weakened and lost 2nd towards finish
held up in touch, headway 4f out, soon chasing leaders, lost place over 1f out
in rear but in touch, not clear run over 2f out, headway entering final furlong, stayed on strongly to take 2nd close home, no chance with winner
tracked leader, effort over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
An interesting contest and one where BEAT THE RUSH is selected ahead of Molon Labe and Pena Dorada. The selection already has a one mile course win to his name, having taken a fast ground handicap over that trip last October. He came back well after the winter off, finding just one too good at Beverley when stepped up to this distance a fortnight ago. Although upped another 4lbs here, he looks progressive and is fancied to get his nose in front once again. Molon Labe looks a danger. Tom Tate's string are in good form and this gelding has shown improvement in three maidens so far, making the frame at Nottingham on soft ground in November when we last saw him. The step up in trip looks positive, but he still has it to prove over the distance and on this ground for the first time. Pena Dorada is another making his handicap debut, in his case from 1lb lower off a mark of 72. He has raced as if this trip would be ideal, so he can probably show more than his results so far suggest. Meetings Man is worth another try at the trip and a 4lb drop won't do him any harm, so with Hanagan up he would be very interesting if backed. However, Beat The Rush sets the standard here and is given the vote.
Beat The Rush 7-2 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and switched right over 1f out, challenged and every chance inside final furlong, just held near finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Corsica (9-3) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Molon Labe (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Burj Nahar (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Pena Dorada (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Held up mid-division, hampered over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 5th of 10, 5l behind Futurist (9-0) at Pontefract 1m 2f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Oct.
Red Barcelona (IRE) 28-1 (9-3) Soon pushed along in rear, last of 7, 20l behind Musaafer (9-3) at Pontefract 1m 2yo mdn (4) gf in Sep.
All Moving Parts (USA) 66-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, never in contention, 7th of 13, 24l behind Lord Raglan (8-10) at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft.
Meetings Man (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) In rear, ridden over 3f out, wide and headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 7l behind Cornish Beau (8-12) at Pontefract 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
