in touch, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders, ridden and squeezed through on inner to lead over 1f out, ran on well
mid-division, ridden and headway over 3f out, kept on final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on and not much room inside final furlong
slowly away, towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, no impression final furlong
in rear, ridden over 2f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, nearest at finish
took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden and one pace from 2f out
Plenty to prove here for most of these and a race not to get too heavily involved in, but for the selection we will tentatively side with Gifted Flame to beat Premier Dream and Alchemist Master. Gifted Flame is 2lb lower here than when winning a 1m fast ground Carlisle handicap just over a year ago. Beaten by the handicapper thereafter last season, he showed signs of a return to form off this mark at Carlisle last time. Trip and ground suit, and will will take a chance on him to small stakes. Alchemist Master is in red hot form on this sort of surface, but has to shoulder a 6lb penalty here for his recent Catterick success, and the suspicion is that he is a fair bit better over shorter than this trip. He is drawn well enough, but we will oppose him today. Premier Dream has just about the worst of the draw, and has to put a shocker behind him when thrashed at Newcastle last time. He would probably prefer cut, and while we don't expect such a tame run this time he will do very well to win. The choice for us then is Gifted Flame.
