held up, headway over 2f out, driven and one pace until weakened inside final furlong
led, shaken up over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on same pace
towards rear, ridden along and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
prominent, ridden along halfway, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, soon chased along, never troubled leaders
A number come into this race in form but TRI CHARA is the one that we want to be with ahead of Triple Axel and Mrs Bun. Reg Hollinshead's charge is unbeaten in two outings over course and distance and can make light of his 6lb penalty. He appeared to have something up his sleeve when taking a well contested handicap five days ago and looks capable of going in again. Triple Axel kept on well to beat a fair yardstick over six furlongs on her first start since arriving from Ireland. The handicapper has taken a literal reading of that form and raised her by 10lbs to the same mark as the runner-up which makes her opposable. Crocodile Bay has a good record here and merits respect, Mrs Bun will need to pull out a bit more to defy a 6lb rise whilst World Of Choice is one to keep a close eye on in the market having finished 3 lengths behind Colony on his second and final start for Saeed Bin Suroor in a Bath maiden in 2007. Sarwin makes his debut for Alan Swinbank here and is another for whom support would be worth noting but we'll take Tri Chara to retain his unbeaten course record.
Tri Chara (IRE) 4-1fav (8-9) Chased leaders, led well over 2f out, kept on, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs beating Caprio (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Crocodile Bay (IRE) 7-2 (8-10) Soon led, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Don Pele (9-0) at Southwell 6f clm (6) fbs.
Triple Axel (IRE) 7-4jt-fav (8-12) Held up, smooth headway over 1f, led approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 6f mdn stk (5) fbs in Dec beating Augustus John (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Sarwin (USA) 12-1 (8-7) Steadied start, towards rear, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, never nearer, 8th of 10, 8l behind Haarth Sovereign (9-1) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Mrs Bun 7-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, driven out, won at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs beating Betteras Bertie (8-10) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
To Bubbles 33-1 (9-4) Dwelt, towards rear, never dangerous, 12th of 14, 17l behind Norcroft (9-6) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
World of Choice (USA) 25-1 (8-10) Always rear division, 5th of 7, 10l behind Boundless Prospect (8-13) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Dec.