always towards rear
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
tracked leaders, every chance 2f out, soon ridden, one pace final furlong
led 3f, with leader until ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, eased over 1f out
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, led just over 1f out, soon clear comfortably
behind, some headway over 1f out, never dangerous
slowly into stride, behind, stayed on from over 1f out, never nearer
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, headway over 7f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go second well inside final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
soon with leader, led after 3f, ridden and hung right 2f out, headed just over 1f out, one paced inside final furlong
Eastborough, Charmatic and Blue Hills are three against the field in this wide open handicap and the vote is given to Eastborough. The selection ran well over a longer trip here last time when third behind Precious Mystery. He is in good form and with the return to this more suitable trip in his favour he should go well with Jamie Spencer in the plate. Charmatic won well at Southwell last time when beating Robbie Can Can. This looks a stronger race but he goes well for today's pilot Andrew Mullen and it would be no surprise to see him make the frame. Blue Hills beat Ruffed last time at Southwell but that was his first win in 21 attempts and he looks worth taking on in this more difficult race. Turtle Patriarch ran well on his seasonal reappearance at Folkestone behind Duelling Banjos and he is entitled to come on for that run, but Eastborough looks to have solid claims here and is taken to score.
Merrymaker 14-1 Held up, headway over 2f out, no further impression from over 1f out, 4th of 9, 8l behind Hello It's Me at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp (C1) pol in Dec.
Smart John 11-1 Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 10, 11l behind True Companion at Nottingham 1m 2f stk sft.
First Dynasty (USA) 16-1 Mid-division, headway 2f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 19, 6l behind Archirondel at Beverley 1m 2f hcp gd.
Blue Hills 15-8fav Always prominent, led after 3f, clear over 1f out, easily, won at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stk fbs beating Ruffed by 10l, 6 ran.
Eastborough (IRE) 4-1fav Mid-division, headway 4f out, every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Precious Mystery at Warwick 1m 7f hcp gs in Mar.
Charmatic (IRE) 13-2 Soon tracking leaders, led over 7f out, ridden 2f out, ran on, won at Southwell 1m 3f app hcp gs beating Robbie Can Can by 3l, 9 ran.
Dhehdaah 4-1 In touch, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 3l behind Mungo Jerry at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp sft.
Turtle Patriarch (IRE) 8-1 Close up, ridden and led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Duelling Banjos at Folkestone 1m 2f hcp sft.
