always prominent, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
missed break, held up in rear, switched left and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong to lead towards finish
held up, headway over 3f out, beaten when not much room over 1f out
prominent, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
led, ridden and strongly pressed from over 1f out, headed towards finish
soon tracking leader, every chance well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, eased
awkward start, held up, always in rear
Ian Williams has his runners in good form and looks to have found a good opportunity here for ENSNARE, while Just Bond, Plush and Southandwest should all go well. Kieren Fallon is a good booking for the selection, who relishes trips of a mile and 9f, and comes here in cracking form after winning a Kempton handicap off a mark of 65 a month of or so, and then just failing to defy a 6lb rise at Lingfield next time. A further 3lbs to shoulder here will not make this any easier, but he acts well at this track and could not have a better pilot to negotiate safe passage, so we will side with him. Just Bond is another course and distance scorer, having won here last week, for which he now carries a 7lb penalty. While he should again be competitive, he does now need a career best to win this and he can go well without winning. Tom Dascombe saddles Plush, who has won four of his last six starts at the track, the most recent of which came in January. He is now 11lbs higher than he was that day, and given that he has not been seen since February he has both an absence and the handicapper to overcome. Southandwest has twice gone close over 7f in recent outings, but is stepped up markedly in trip here and pedigree suggests that he might struggle to get home, so we'll take him on. Arizona John and Tamasou both look in need of favours from the assessor, and Ensnare can score.
Just Bond (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Keen hold early, settled 3rd over 6f out, headway going well over 1f out, ridden and ran on to lead final 100 yards, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov beating Brouhaha (9-7) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Plush 11-8fav (8-12) Steadied start, effort on outside over 2f out, took poor 4th 1f out, held when hampered and eased inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 7l behind Gallantry (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Southandwest (IRE) 10-3 (8-6) Close up, ridden 3f out, short of room over 2f out, effort approaching final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Caprio (8-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Nov.
Arizona John (IRE) 7-2fav (9-4) Tracked leading pair, going well, joined leader on bit over 1f out and every chance, ridden entering final furlong and found nil, 5th of 9, 2 1/2l behind South Cape (9-3) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Tamasou (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 14th of 20, 18l behind Jordaura (8-11) at Doncaster 7f app hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Nov.
Ensnare 3-1 (9-2) Close up on inside, ridden to lead 1f out, headed final strides, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Hurakan (9-0) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Ninth House (USA) 11-1 (9-3) Mid-division, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 14, 13l behind Lordship (8-1) at Ayr 7f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
Stevie Gee (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out, 9th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Hellbender (8-6) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Nov.
