tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, one pace final 2f
mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
in touch, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
led after 1f, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened 1f out
keen led 1f, tracked leader, led again 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd near finish
dwelt in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, soon switched left, chased leading pair over 1f out, ran on to go 2nd near finish
in rear, ridden halfway, soon outpaced
An intriguing handicap which should produce plenty of pointers for the coming months. Mark Johnston has won the last two renewals and is represented by MALTHOUSE and Nawaashi. The former has Frankie on board and made a winning debut at Ascot last season. A recent run at Deauville will have put him straight and his guaranteed fitness should count. Polar Kite took a couple of races to warm up last summer but ended his campaign in July with a smart victory in a York maiden. There's sure to be more to come as there will be from Eternal Ruler, who overcame inexperience to make a winning debut at Ayr in October. Mariachi Man showed a determined attitude last season and he looks just the type to make a useful three-year-old handicapper. Piceno won a couple of soft ground handicaps in August but didn't really take to Polytrack later.
Mariachi Man 9-2 (9-7) With leader, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed just over 1f out, kept challenging strongly, ran on, just held, 2nd of 9, shd behind Humdrum (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 2yo hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Malthouse (GER) (8-9) 3rd of 9, 1/2l behind Cool Dude (8-9) at Deauville(FR) 7f cond stks fbs in Mar.
Fred Willetts (IRE) 17-2 (9-13) Raced wide in rear, never near leaders, 8th of 12, 8l behind Kingscroft (8-11) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Polar Kite (IRE) 10-11fav (9-3) Tracked leader, challenged going well over 2f out, shaken up lead over 1f out, ridden out, readily, won at York 7f 2yo mdn (3) gf in Jul beating King Of The Celts (9-3) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Piceno (IRE) 5-2fav (9-0) Led, set strong pace, headed over 2f out, faded, 5th of 8, 7l behind Swift Alhaarth (8-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Nawaashi 5-2fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, hard driven over 2f out, switched right to challenge over 1f out, soon one pace, 3rd of 11, 4l behind First Class Favour (9-2) at Catterick 7f 2yo fll hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Eternal Ruler (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Slowly away, in rear, headway and hung left on outer over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on to lead close home, won at Ayr 1m 2yo mdn (4) gs in Oct beating Sam Nombulist (9-0) by nk, 9 ran.
Il Battista 12-1 (9-7) Led, ridden over 2f out, soon headed, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 17l behind Kuala Limper (9-3) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Nasharra (IRE) 100-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 14th of 22, 15l behind Ladies Are Forever (7-12) at Redcar 6f Lstd auc stks (1) gs in Oct.
