held up, pushed along 2f out, headway on inner over 1f out, ran on to lead entering final furlong, kept on
towards rear, driven and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
led, ridden along halfway, headed entering final furlong, no extra inside
held up, headway 2f out, driven over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
chased leaders, driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders to halfway
in touch, pushed along halfway, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong
held up behind leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong
always rear division
chased leaders, ridden along halfway, weakened final furlong
Nonrunner
This is a competitive handicap and we will take a chance on Highland Warrior as the selection, with best of the rest suggested as Hotham and Our Little Secret. The case for Highland Warrior is that he has dropped to a good mark, having won from a nine pounds higher rating (that success having come in May 2006), he should appreciate the likely ease in the going today and his last two runs have been for a new stable, so he should be primed now to show his true colours. Our Little Secret showed improved form to win as a mare-in-foal last time and further improvement cannot be ruled out given her condition, while Hotham's bid to defy his penalty last time was denied by an interrupted run and, clearly in good heart, he looks set to go well again today. Of the others, Harrison's Flyer is on a 'winnable-from' mark and comes here on the back of a good Bath effort, and his stablemate Exponential, who might improve for some juice in the going, get a mention, while you could build a case for a few of the others, including Princess Cleo, who likes good to soft and who is on a potentially very fair mark, and Never Without Me, who has won on good to soft and who is now rated a pound below a winning mark from last summer. For the selection, though, we will suggest Highland Warrior.
Highland Warrior 7-1 (8-8) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, never reached challenging position, 7th of 8, 3l behind Oranmore Castle (9-1) at Thirsk 5f hcp 0-80 (4) frm in May.
Our Little Secret (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Made all, quickened clear over 1f out, kept on final furlong, won at Catterick 5f hcap (5) gf beating Strensall (9-8) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
Mr Rooney (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Prominent, ridden 3f out, no headway, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 8l behind Misaro (8-5) at Brighton 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Apr.
Harrison's Flyer (IRE) 7-1 (8-5) Towards rear, headway 1f out, edged left, every chance well inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 11, nk behind Gilded Cove (8-8) at Bath 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Princess Cleo 5-1jt-fav (9-9) Prominent far side, switched left to stand side group halfway, ridden 2f out, chased winner final furlong, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Sahara Silk (9-3) at Beverley 5f fll hcp (6) gf.
Jakeini (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, weakened final furlong, 9th of 10, 6l behind Hoh Hoh Hoh (9-13) at Chester 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Observatory Star (IRE) 10-1 (9-13) Held up, smooth progress over 1f out, ran on final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, shd behind Winthorpe (9-5) at Catterick 6f hcap (6) gf.
Henry Hall (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 15, 4l behind Hotham (9-2) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
