held up, headway over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
hampered start, always behind
prominent, ridden to lead 2f out, headed and no extra towards finish
held up in touch, driven to challenge over 2f out, stayed on well
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, never able to challenge
behind, pushed along halfway, soon beaten
mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on approaching final furlong
swerved right start, soon led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, soon driven, never a factor
tracked leaders, keen hold, ridden over 2f out, ridden over 1f out
held up in touch, ridden to challenge over 2f out, stayed on same pace
hampered start, always behind
went right start, soon prominent, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Howards Tipple, Lafontaine Bleu and Princess Ellis look the three to concentrate on in this open handicap and the tentative vote goes to Lafontaine Bleu. Richard Fahey has started the flat season well and will be looking to continue that momentum today. His filly won well on her third start last season but then went off the boil in subsequent handicap outings. She should be sharper for her recent reappearance and now stepped back up to her best trip, she should go well. Princess Ellis is still a maiden after nine starts, however she has run some good races in defeat and has place claims once again, although her wide draw will not help. Auction Oasis won a seller on her penultimate start but was disappointing at Wolverhampton next time out and will need to bounce back. Howards Tipple has shown some good early pace in the past and now dropped in trip looks a live danger, along with Social Rhythm is consistent and should be suited by the drop in trip. All in all an open contest and Lafontaine Bleu gets the tentative selection.
Social Rhythm 12-1 (8-10) In touch, slightly hampered on rail after 2f, ridden over 2f out, no headway, 6th of 12, 8l behind Annemasse (9-3) at Kempton 7f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Vadinka 16-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 9, 8l behind Para Siempre (9-3) at Southwell 6f 3yo hcp (5) fbs in Jan.
Woqoodd 12-1 (9-0) Held up, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 7l behind Valery Borzov (9-7) at Musselburgh 5f 3yo hcp (5) gf.
Nobilissima (IRE) 14-1 (8-5) Prominent, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Vaunt (9-2) at Bath 5f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Howards Tipple 22-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden and one pace from 2f out, 4th of 13, 5l behind Gazboolou (8-12) at Musselburgh 7f mdn stk (5) gf.
Multitude (IRE) 9-2 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Flores Sea (8-9) at Pontefract 6f 2yo mdn auc (5) gs in Oct.
Lafontaine Bleu 12-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 13l behind Valery Borzov (9-7) at Musselburgh 5f 3yo hcp (5) gf.
Perlachy 11-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, not pace to challenge, 4th of 14, 4l behind Totally Free (9-4) at Southwell 5f 3yo hcp (6) fbs.
Auction Oasis 20-1 (9-1) Broke very well and led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 13, 22l behind Mac Gille Eoin (9-6) at W'hampton 6f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Arnie's Joint (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Mid-division, keen, not clear run 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out to chase leaders, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Knapton Hill (8-11) at Warwick 7f 3yo hcp (6) gf.
Minnie Mill 18-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, always in rear, 10th of 12, 6l behind Convivial Spirit (8-13) at W'hampton 6f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Princess Ellis 17-2 (9-0) Soon led, ridden well over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Poppy's Rose (9-0) at Pontefract 6f 3yo mdn fll (5) gd.
Wiseton Dancer (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 6l behind Bentley (8-12) at W'hampton 6f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Lovers Kiss 20-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden 4f out, weakened entering final 2f, 9th of 13, 17l behind Para Siempre (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Dec.
