in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over final furlong
pushed along and always towards rear
always behind and outpaced
towards rear, outpaced half way, soon ridden, headway over 2f out, stayed on and no impression
led early, chased leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on well
soon led, ridden well over 1f out, soon headed, kept on same pace
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, soon weakened
A competitive race, which you would expect for the money on offer, and one in which we like the look of Ellens Academy ahead of Mufreh, Air Mail and Warden Warren. Running through the field. Mystic Man is untried on the surface but will be doing well to land this off topweight. Mufreh looked progressive when scoring narrowly in a competitive handicap over course and distance last time and, even under an eight-pound rise in the weights, could still go well. Ephesus does not look obviously well handicapped. Air Mail ran extremely well to be fourth on his first run for 11 months last time and is certainly well handicapped on his winning form of March 2002. Ellens Academy is now only two-pounds higher in the ratings than for his course and distance win of April 2001 but ran a very good race last time when third in a valuable event here over a furlong-shorter trip last time. He looks primed to run well today. Having looked progressive when romping home here over a mile in December, Sangiovese found the step up in trip and a 15lb-rise in the ratings too much for him at Lingfield last time. Dropped two pounds for that run, it will be interesting to see how he goes today. Connections have elected to step Polar Kingdom up in trip following a course win on February 5. That was his first win in a while but at least he comes here in good heart. Prima Stella won a six-furlong handicap here in January but now races from a six-pound higher mark, although Lisa Jones takes off a valuable three. It's a long time since Lincoln Dancer won and recent efforts have hardly been auspicious, while Warden Warren, being a course and distance winner from a five-pound lower mark than today, cannot be ruled out with his very good young rider taking five pounds off his back. Overall, though, we'll side with Ellens Academy.
