in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, effort over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
towards rear, effort when not clear on entering final furlong, kept on towards finish
slowly into stride, brief effort 2f out, soon weakened
in touch, headway and effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong
towards rear, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, no extra towards finish
slowly into stride, towards rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
swerved right start, in touch, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
hampered start, towards rear, headway when not much room over 2f out, no impression
led, headed over 1f out, weakened over final furlong
tracked leaders, led over 1f out, ridden out
slowly into stride, always behind
A tough, competitive handicap with little to choose between the majority of runners, but a low draw is generally an advantage here, so Blackheath gets a narrow vote ahead of Tancred Times. David Nicholls' horses are running well, and Blackheath comes into the race in good form, having finished second in a big handicap over six furlongs at Haydock last time. He won over this trip at Folkestone earlier in the season, and gets a tentative vote here. Fly More looks on a fair mark and should appreciate the return to handicap company after running second in a Classified Stakes at Windsor last time. He should go close but has a poor draw in stall 12 to overcome. Tancred Times is in good form & still looks on a fair mark. He could make a bold bid from the front with his draw on the stand rail, while Blessingindisguise is well handicapped on some of his old form and is also well drawn, so cannot entirely be ruled out. However, Blackheath appears to have the most solid claims and he gets the vote.