tracked winner, driven over 3f out, soon under pressure, weakened over 2f out
made all, 5 lengths clear 3f out, 15 lengths clear approaching final furlong, eased down, unchallenged
Nonrunner
Just a trio turn up for another maiden handicap where topweight DR VALENTINE gets the vote ahead of Spruce and Ivestar. Julia Fielden's Spruce is forecast to go off as the odds-on favourite here and receives a stone from the selection. The four-year-old has had just four starts, and is open to improvement, having gone close from today's mark of 60 at Lingfield last time. Pedigree suggests that this step up in trip is not certain to suit, especially on this slower surface, and at a short price he doesn't appear to represent value. Ivestar was unfancied and thrashed here over course and distance in a claimer last time. His recent form has been poor and while Patrick Haslam has been known to land a coup here it is hard to envisage a plunge on what we have seen of late. That leads us to the selection, Dr Valentine. Anne Duffield's gelding has to shoulder topweight here and was last seen being comfortably accounted for in a Sedgefield selling hurdle. However, his Flat form has shown more promise than that, in particular when making the frame at Chester's May meeting last year, over 10 furlongs. Being by Dr Fong there is every chance that he will act on this surface and he gets our vote.
Ivestar (IRE) 25-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor, 5th of 6, 12l behind Friends Hope (8-4) at Southwell 1m 3f clm stks (5) fbs in Jan.
Spruce (USA) 9-4fav (9-5) Close up, ridden to go 3rd over 2f out, driven inside final furlong, stayed on to press winner near finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Zero Cool (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcap (6) pol.
Dr Valentine (FR) (9-2) 3rd of 16, 1/2l behind Narjan (9-2) at Chateaubriant(FR) 1m 2f stk in May.
