chased leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out
pushed along leaving stalls, soon in touch, weakened over 3f out
prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened final f
prominent, ridden 5f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace
slowly into stride, behind, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well
pressed leader, led over 6f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
led, headed over 6f out, every chance well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
outpaced, never in contention
lost many lengths start, always well behind, tailed off
chased leaders, outpaced over 6f out, stayed on from over 1f out, went 4th inside final furlong, no threat
Nonrunner
ANSELLS PRIDE seems to be running back into form and if continuing in that vain should get the better of Avertis and Hilbre Court in this wide open handicap. The last two mentioned dead-heated over course and distance last time out so have to be given a chance to follow up despite an extra four pounds to shoulder this time around. Of the pair Avertis looks best placed to handle the extra poundage with a 50% strike rate at this track. Hilbre Court also has no problems winning here having done so three times but it's been a while since he's had this much to carry so we make preference for Ansells Pride. Bryan Smart's gelding has improved this winter as his mark has fallen and ran his best race for a while when just headed at the post over a furlong extra at Wolverhampton. Grantedr he has never scored here before but he has acted well on this surface and with this step down in trip likely to suit he looks the most likely. Ours ran a decent race in defeat last time and looks weighted for a challenge but with his poor record on this surface we prefer the chances of Ansells Pride.
Avertis 5-2 (9-5) Held up, headway to track leaders going well 3f out, hard ridden on outside over 1f out, stayed on under presure inside final furlong, joined leader post, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs deadheating with Hilbre Court (9-0), 5 ran.
Flores Sea (USA) 11-2 (8-12) Led 8f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened and eased final furlong, 5th of 6, 7l behind Inheritor (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Moonlight Man 9-2 (8-10) Led, headed over 2f out, stayed pressing winner until lost 2nd 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 4l behind Polish Power (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm stks (6) pol in May.
Hilbre Court (USA) 10-3 (9-0) Soon disputing lead, advantage well over 3f out, narrowly headed over 1f out, ridden to lead again inside final furlong, stayed on, joined post, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs deadheating with Avertis (9-5), 5 ran.
Ours (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Raced wide, held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Snow Bay (8-10) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
Elusive Fame (USA) 5-2fav (8-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 11, 5l behind Snow Bay (8-10) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
Ansells Pride (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Led, pushed along 3f out, headed post, 2nd of 7, nk behind African Cheetah (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
General Tufto 9-4 (9-9) In touch, ridden to challenge 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 12, 10l behind Topcroft (8-11) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Silver Hotspur 14-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and some headway over 1f out, never nearer, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Salerosa (9-5) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Criterion 33-1 (9-7) Mid-division, outpaced 3f out, ridden and no impression when not much room over 1f out, 11th of 13, 11l behind Giant Sequoia (9-7) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Sedgwick 12-1 (9-1) Stumbled start and lost ground, in rear, ridden and headway 1f out, stayed on, 7th of 12, 5l behind Xpres Maite (8-13) at Southwell 7f hcp (5) gd in Apr '08.
