chased leaders, effort 2f out, kept on one pace
held up, headway 2f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, every chance, no extra and lost 2nd close home
towards rear, hampered and checked on rail halfway, headway over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, not quite reached winner
behind, headway over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, not reached leaders
held up, edged left halfway, headway over 1f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, ran on well, driven out
chased leader, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened rapidly over 1f out
close up, effort and every chance 2f out, not quicken, soon weakened
chased leaders, effort and every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out
started slowly, soon chased leaders to 2f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent until weakened 2f out
in touch, ridden to lead 2f out, no extra when headed inside final furlong, faded towards finish
Music Box Express should ensure that this is run at a decent clip and that could play into the hands of DESERT DREAMER; War And Peace and Sarah's Art are amongst others that make some appeal in a warm heat. Desert Dreamer's last five wins have all come in sellers and claimers but he's now 4lbs lower than when successful in a handicap in March of last year and comes into the race on the back of a decent run at Pontefract. Six furlongs at this track is much sharper and he was doing his best work in the closing stages so there has to be a concern that the line will come too soon. However, Music Box Express can usually be relied upon to set a decent pace and he did just that when never seeing another rival over course and distance in September. He's only 5lbs higher now and should go well. War And Peace ran as well as could have been expected in a Wolverhampton maiden but continues to frustrate whilst Sarah's Art did run well last time but looks handicapped up to his best. Cases can be made for one or two others as you'd expect but we'll take Desert Dreamer to open his account for the Evans yard at the second time of asking.
I Confess 5-1 (8-13) Led to halfway, chased leader to 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Trafalgar Square (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcap (5) pol in Jan.
War And Peace (IRE) 7-2 (9-13) Chased winner, ridden over 1f out, no chance with winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Servoca (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Desert Dreamer (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Slowly away, towards rear, stayed on strongly on outer from over 1f out, nearest finish, 3rd of 17, 4l behind Pickering (8-7) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Hart of Gold 7-1 (8-11) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 15, 3 1/2l behind What Katie Did (8-8) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Baby Rock 3-1fav (9-3) Chased leaders, led halfway, headed approaching 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 9l behind Motivated Choice (8-12) at Windsor 6f mdn stks (5) gs in Oct.
Sarah's Art (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) Behind, headway 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 15, 1l behind What Katie Did (8-8) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Music Box Express 250-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 13, 35l behind Prime Defender (9-2) at Doncaster 6f Listed stks (1) gf in Mar.
Non Sucre (USA) 8-1 (9-8) Keen, tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened quickly from over 1f out, last of 7, 7l behind Speak The Truth (9-1) at Lingfield 6f sell stks (6) pol.
Miltons Choice 20-1 (9-0) Led after 1f, soon joined, ridden over 1f out, edged left, ran on, won at Folkestone 6f App hcp (6) gs in Apr '08 beating Reigning Monarch (9-3) by 2l, 9 ran.
Red Amaryllis 11-4fav (8-12) Broke well, soon tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 2f, 6th of 8, 21l behind Al Gillani (9-3) at Great Leighs 6f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Sep.
Berrymead 40-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, keen, reminders on outside from over 3f out, close up over 2f out, kept on, 3rd of 6, 1l behind Princess Rose Anne (9-10) at Bath 5f fll hcp (0-75) (3yo+) (5).
Trivia (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, faded, 6th of 10, 6l behind Sherjawy (8-8) at Kempton 6f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Mar.
El Potro 12-1 (8-12) Chased leader stands side group, every chance 1f out, kept on, 8th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Top Bid (9-2) at Nottingham 5f hcap (6) hvy in Nov.
Tudor Prince (IRE) 4-1 (9-4) Always prominent, raced keenly, went 2nd 2f out, led entering final furlong, soon headed, not pace of winner, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind One More Round (9-4) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
