held up in touch, progress to track leaders halfway, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon under pressure, weakened over 1f out
in rear but in touch, ridden and flashed tail over 1f out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, stayed on strongly, never reached winner
tracked winner, ridden to challenge over 1f out, soon every chance, weakened close home
held up in touch, under pressure 3f out, soon no impression
made all, steady gallop, quickened well over 2f out, soon strongly challenged, hard driven, stayed on gamely
GORDON FLASH should improve for this longer trip and is subsequently selected ahead of Rose Alba and Queen Of Wands. Richard Hannon has his horses in good nick and this son of Alhaarth shaped with promise as his season progressed in 2009. Out of a dam who won over this trip, he should see out this longer trip well and is taken to run a big race. Queen Of Wands is another for whom the trip shouldn't be a problem and she is respected on her handicap debut, Sounds Of Thunder needs to step up on her all-weather form over the winter, whilst Rose Alba looked better than the end result at Folkestone last time and is expected to continue improving as a three-year-old. Head Hunted has had a quiet time in three maidens but is now watched closely in the betting as he steps up in trip on this handicap bow, whilst Blinka Me looks solid. Some potential improvers in this small field and it is one of those, Gordon Flash, who gets the vote.
Sounds Of Thunder 22-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 6l behind Azlak (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Apr.
Queen Of Wands 11-4 (8-7) Chased leaders, slight lead and green on bend over 7f out, not handle bend into straight 5f out, headed over 4f out, chased winner, hard driven over 2f out, one pace and held when lost 2nd final 110 yards, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Visualize (8-7) at Windsor 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gf in Apr.
Gordon Flash 16-1 (8-5) Led, headed 3f out, soon ridden, one pace final furlong, 5th of 9, 7l behind Lethal Combination (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
Rose Alba (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Led after 1f, headed 7f out, tracked leaders, effort when switched left over 1f out, ridden and kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind On Khee (8-10) at Folkestone 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Apr.
Head Hunted 10-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 9l behind Beneath (8-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Blinka Me 8-1 (9-1) Chased winner, under pressure over 4f out, stayed on same pace from 2f out, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Ibn Hiyyan (9-4) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Apr.