chased leaders, ridden to lead over 3f out, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, all out
slow away, keen and soon tracking leaders, ridden and weakened 3f out
soon led, ridden and headed over 3f out, hard ridden and every chance inside final furlong, just held
held up mid-division, lost place 5f out
held up in rear, ridden 3f out, headway and switched right approaching final furlong, stayed on inside final furlong
held up, pushed along over 5f out, no impression 2f out
held up in touch, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
always behind
held up towards rear, effort over 3f out, never dangerous
held up and keen, headway over 5f out, one pace and no impression final furlong
held up, ridden 4f out, headway well over 1f out, kept on final furlong
led early, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace and no impression over 1f out
Following a terrific hurdles campaign Habitual Dancer looks a good thing here to beat Snow's Ride and Hugs Destiny. Jed O'Keeffe's four-year-old was successful twice over the winter, beating Impulsive Bid at Newcastle and Regal Setting at Kelso. He will obviously lack nothing in fitness and with Paul Hanagan on board with just nine stones, he should be flying round this track and looks the one to be on. Snow's Ride made a belated hurdles debut at Wetherby recently and didn't do too badly finishing third Lord Rodney. He didn't manage a victory on the flat last season but put up some good performances in defeat and he appears to be the main threat to the selection. Hugs Destiny is the dark horse in the line-up, he has just had three outings on the all-weather and makes his handicap debut this afternoon. The assessor has taken no chances, but he is from a shrewd yard and should be monitored for any market move. All in all it isn't the strongest of renewals and Habitual Dancer is a confident choice.
Solomon's Mine (USA) 16-1 Led, pushed along and headed 5f out, weakened 3f out, 8th of 10, well behind Peak Park at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (E3) fbs in Feb.
Hugs Destiny (IRE) 6-1 Held up in rear, ridden over 4f out, never near leaders, 6th of 11, 6l behind Isle de Maurice at W'hampton 1m 4f mdn stk (D3) pol.
Box Builder 20-1 Tracked leaders, led over 3f out until 2f out, stayed on, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Garnett at Lingfield 2m app hcp (E3) pol.
Bill Bennett (FR) 14-1 Chased leaders, ridden 4f out, stayed on same pace under pressure, 4th of 13, 6l behind Game Guru at Southwell 1m 4f app hcp (F4) fbs.
Vicars Destiny 33-1 Slowly into stride, never dangerous, 8th of 12, 26l behind Kristensen at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (D2) fbs in Dec.
Snow's Ride 7-2 Held up and headway over 5f out, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Ego Trip at Catterick 1m 6f stk (F3) gs in Oct.
Acceleration (IRE) 33-1 Switched right soon after start, behind, kept on final 2f, never on terms, 6th of 12, 6l behind Swift Sailor at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp gd.
Habitual Dancer 7-1 Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway to lead 2f out, kept on, won at Ayr 1m 7f hcp (E3) sft in Oct beating Winslow Boy by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Kaliyoun (IRE) 6th of 14, 8l behind Chopyluz at Nantes 1m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Vanishing Dancer (SWI) 8-1 Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and effort over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Mischief at Carlisle 1m 6f amt hcp 0-70 (E) frm in Aug '03.
Green 'n' Gold 20-1 Always towards rear, 10th of 17, 13l behind Super Fellow at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp 0-65 (E) gs in Aug.
All Bleevable 14-1 Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, 6th of 10, 18l behind Peak Park at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (E3) fbs in Feb.
Merryvale Man 16-1 Led, headed 7f out, chased leaders, ridden and lost place over 4f out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 43l behind Hajeer at Southwell 2m hcp 0-60 (F) fbs in Feb '03.
