slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on
with winner, ridden over 3f out, chased winner over 2f out, no extra final furlong
slowly into stride, headway to chased leaders over 4f out, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
made all, clear over 1f out, ran on, eased near finish
always in rear
raced wide, prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
with winner, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on, never dangerous
raced wide, prominent, ridden and weakened halfway
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, in rear, never dangerous
with winner, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
reminders early to race in mid-division, ridden and headway to chase winner over 1f out, kept on but no chance with winner
Whitbarrow has turned the clock back lately, and is selected to complete a hat-trick, with Never Without Me, Word Perfect, Zarzu and Siraj all out to stop him. Whitbarrow was a very useful performer in his prime and gained his first victory since 2004 when landing a course-and-distance claimer here at the end of April by four-lengths from Zarzu. He has since followed up in handicap company at Wolverhampton, and although he does not like being crowded, can again go close as long as he breaks well from the four box. It can be pointed out that Zarzu is much better off at the weights with Rod Millman's charge here, but he has been hard to win with. Never Without Me ran very well in defeat in a Hamilton handicap, while Word Perfect will benefit from the run but has not won for a long time. Siraj was a prolific winner on the Kempton Polytrack last year, and if anywhere near fit could go well, but as long as he does not get crowded, Whitbarrow should have the legs of them.
Zarzu 9-2 (9-11) Held up, headway halfway, ridden and switched right over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Whitbarrow (8-13) at Southwell 6f clm (6) fbs in Apr.
Melalchrist 6-1 (8-11) Led until over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 11, 7l behind Steel City Boy (8-12) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Whitbarrow (IRE) 7-2fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ran on strongly, won at W'hampton 6f hcp (6) pol beating Dasheena (9-0) by 2l, 13 ran.
Kansas Gold 9-1 (8-7) Led narrowly, ridden and headed well over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 6l behind Guest Connections (9-8) at Goodwood 6f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Tag Team (IRE) 9-4fav (8-10) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 13, 12l behind Hamaasy (8-2) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Jan.
Word Perfect 8-1 (9-2) Prominent, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon one pace, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Owed (9-3) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Siraj 11-4jt-fav (9-2) Held up in touch, driven to lead and hard-pressed inside final furlong, asserted near finish, held on well, won at Kempton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec beating Imperium (9-2) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Never Without Me 12-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Brut (8-12) at Hamilton 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
