slowly into stride, behind and pushed along, switched left and headway from over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach winner
held up, always in rear
keen, held up in touch, ridden and effort over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out
close up, hampered and lost place halfway
mid-division, not much room halfway, behind after
in touch, switched right and headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon hung left, ran on
raced wide in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
in touch, ridden well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
dwelt, held up in rear, ridden and stayed on final 2f, never nearer
led 5f out, ridden 3 lengths clear over 2f out, headed and kept on one pace over 1f out
led 2f, edged left halfway, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders until over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened well over 1f out
Nonrunner
Island Green can defy a penalty in this competitive handicap, with Kew The Music, Weet For Ever and Government just a few more with claims. Any one of those mentioned could win this, and only a modest vote goes to Island Green who was claimed out of Barney Curley's yard after taking a mile claimer here nine days ago. He won a shade cosily that day against some higher-rated rivals, and despite having to shoulder a 6lb penalty over this shorter trip, is fancied to follow up. Kew The Music is one of six course-and-distance winners in the line-up, and gained his latest success here last week thanks to a strong ride from Chris Catlin who brought him through from the rear to score narrowly. That was his first visit to the winner's enclosure in two years, and he too has a penalty to carry, but cannot be left out. Weet For Ever has been pretty consistent in defeat of late and it is not hard to see him being in the shake-up again, while further down the weights, recent winner Government makes some appeal. Methusaleh, Favouring and Dysonic all have place claims of a sort as well, but the pin comes down on Island Green.
Kew The Music 7-2 (8-6) Pushed along, outpaced in rear, kept on under pressure, nearest finish, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Louisiade (8-5) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-70 (5) std.
Desert Lover (IRE) 5-4fav (9-4) Keen, held up in touch, ridden 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd close home, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Fuel Cell (8-8) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-50 (6) fbs.
Island Green (USA) 7-1 (8-10) Close up, tracked leader 3f out, led on bit 2f out, soon in command, won at Southwell 1m clm (6) fbs beating Mademoiselle (8-8) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Weet For Ever (USA) 9-1 (9-6) Led 7f out, ridden and headed 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Island Green (8-10) at Southwell 1m clm (6) fbs.
Dysonic (USA) 7-1 (8-6) Went left start, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Canadian Danehill (9-5) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Feb.
Bandos 14-1 (8-7) Mid-division, driven and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 5l behind Desert Lover (8-8) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs.
Favouring (IRE) 5-1 (8-4) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Blythe Spirit (8-9) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs.
Government (IRE) 66-1 (8-1) Led, headed over 2f out, regained lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs beating Hiats (8-7) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
