Plenty with claims in a lowly handicap, although recent winner Crystalized is taking on better rivals after landing a lowly event at Brighton. Royal Brave, Katja and Vodka Chaser were all placed in maiden company last time while Fredricka went close in a similar handicap at Catterick recently. Wedgewood Estates has scope for improvement and Zafraaj may do better in first-time blinkers. ARGENT TOUCH raced just the three times on Turf last year but improved 20lb on the all-weather over the winter. Derek Shaw's charge gets a tentative vote dropping down in class for his return to this surface.
Walta (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Pulled hard, headway on inside to lead after 2f and soon clear, reduced lead and headed 3f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Ice Slice (9-7) at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Argent Touch 7-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, soon pushed along, ridden halfway, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 5, 6l behind Razin' Hell (8-12) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Mar.
Fredricka 7-1 (9-4) Awkward leaving stalls, soon chasing leaders, ridden halfway, led and hung left approaching final furlong, headed and not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Gulland Rock (9-3) at Catterick 5f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Apr.
Monarch Maid 5-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, recovered and soon led, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 4l behind Gower Princess (9-5) at Kempton 6f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
Royal Brave (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Broke smartly tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Iftaar (9-2) at Brighton 6f mdn stks (5) gd.
Katja 10-11fav (8-7) Led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Dreams Of Reality (8-10) at Wolverhampton 5f mdn stks (5) pol in Apr.
Captain Ryan 12-1 (8-0) Outpaced in rear, driven on outside over 1f out, never involved, 6th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Bounty Hunter (9-2) at Windsor 5f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Zafraaj 7-1 (9-0) Led until 2f, chased winner until ridden and edged left over 1f out, stayed on under pressure in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 3/4l behind Comanchero (8-11) at Chepstow 6f 3yo stk 0-65 (6) sft.
Wedgewood Estates 11-4 (8-13) In touch, headway 2f out, ridden and stayed on to go 3rd post, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Global Explorer (9-7) at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Astral Rose 16-1 (9-4) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, not much room inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 10, 5l behind Where The Boys Are (9-7) at Warwick 5f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) gd.
Crystalized (IRE) 2-1fav (8-9) In touch, rapid headway to lead 2f out, ridden out, won at Brighton 6f stks 0-55 (6) gd beating Sweet Piccolo (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Dancing Juice 8-1 (8-0) Dwelt headway to track winner after 1f, ridden halfway, weakened final furlong, 4th of 5, 12l behind Scarborough (8-4) at Southwell 5f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Apr.
Go Charlie 66-1 (8-10) Took keen hold in touch, pushed along halfway, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 14l behind Ashkari (9-1) at Bath 6f mdn stks (5) fm in Apr.
Vodka Chaser (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Chased leaders in 4th, every chance over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 9, hd behind Boy Wonder (9-0) at Yarmouth 5f mdn auc stks (6) gf in Apr.
Narborough 4-1 (9-3) Prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra final 75 yards, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Where The Boys Are (9-7) at Warwick 5f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) gd.
Diamondsinthesky (IRE) 25-1 (7-11) Prominent towards stands side, ridden and effort 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Skye's The Limit (9-4) at Nottingham 5f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr.
