held up off the pace in mid-division on near side rail, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms
led out wide, headed inside final 3f, soon lost 2nd, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened soon after
chased leaders on near side rail, pushed along halfway, struggling to quicken when not much room over 1f out, weakened final furlong
off the pace in last pair, headway and switched out wide 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner
slowly into stride, outpaced in rear, never on terms
held up in mid-division, good headway chasing leaders halfway, travelling well when switched right to near side rail chasing leaders over 1f out, led final 110 yards, ran on well
steadied and awkwardly away, pulled hard towards rear, ridden and good headway between horses inside final 2f, edged right and kept on same pace inside final furlong
towards rear of mid-division, ridden inside final 2f, one pace and no impression final furlong
mid-division, headway chasing leaders halfway, led and hung right approaching final furlong, headed and not pace of winner final 110 yards, lost 2nd soon after
raced on near side rail, chased leader 2f, weakened inside final 3f
chased leaders bit wide, went 2nd 4f out, led inside final 3f, headed and hampered approaching final furlong, soon lost 2nd, weakened inside final furlong
This looks quite competitive for a 0-75 handicap. Billy Mill won a Wolverhampton maiden last month on just his third career start. Moonshiner is equally unexposed but Obtuse, though successful four times on the all-weather, has shown little so far on this surface. Mitrosonfire was a comfortable winner at Kempton in November but is 6lb higher on his return. Rhythm and Kohinoor have also had a break and Perfect Sign and Ancient Times have switched stables since winning at Southwell in the autumn. TOUCHWOOD has started favourite for his last three races but was beaten each time. However, he’s been gelded since the last of those and, with his trainer and jockey among the winners over the weekend, gets one more chance.
Rhythm (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 9 1/4l behind Jimmy Sparks (9-7) at Newbury 7f (3) gd in Sep.
Perfect Sign (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Mid-division on the inner, niggled along to lead after 2f out, quickened clear entering final furlong, pushed out, readily, won at Southwell 6f fll stks (5) pol in Oct beating Sealed Offer (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Mitrosonfire 7-1 (9-7) Nudged early towards rear, smooth progress when pushed from 2f out, ridden entering final furlong, hit front late on, won a shade cosily, won at Kempton 6f (5) pol in Nov beating Libertine Belle (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Touchwood (IRE) 13-8fav (8-12) Went right start, wide and headway to track leader 5f out, pushed along and unable to quicken 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 6l behind Breath Of Sun (8-12) at Lingfield 6f stks (5) pol in Jan.
Obtuse (IRE) 9-1 (9-6) Pulled hard and prominent, went 2nd 5f out, pushed along and every chance 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 6, 4l behind Patsy Fagan (8-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Billy Mill 9-2 (8-13) Chased leader until over 5f out, went 2nd again and edged left over 1f out, soon led, just held on, won at Wolverhampton 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar beating Torrkee (8-13) by nk, 8 ran.
Kohinoor 9-1 (8-13) Never closer than mid-division, last of 7, 11l behind Conservatoire (8-8) at Goodwood 7f (4) hvy in Oct.
Ancient Times 3-1 (9-5) Soon prominent and led after 2f, ridden 2f out, responded to pressure and ran on well to just hang on, won at Southwell 5f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct beating Barbaroma (9-5) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Hot Scoop 25-1 (9-4) Broke well and led, pushed 2f out, ridden before final furlong, headed inside final furlong, weakened late on, 5th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Tilaawah (9-7) at Wolverhampton 6f (4) pol in Nov.
Crazy Luck 33-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 3 3/4l behind Wudashudacuda (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Shanghai Rock 25-1 (9-3) Led overall, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, no extra, 6th of 13, 3 3/4l behind Tees Spirit (8-11) at Ripon 6f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Moonshiner (IRE) 17-2 (9-0) Outpaced and always towards rear, 7th of 11, 5 3/4l behind Faustus (9-5) at Wolverhampton 5f stks (5) pol in Sep.
