mid-division, headway 6f out, tracked leader over 4f out, led approaching 2f out, ridden out
always in rear, behind 5f out
held up, tailed off 5f out
with leader, led 6f out, ridden when headed approaching 2f out, weakened final furlong
always in rear, behind final 5f
held up, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, chased winner final furlong, never on terms
towards rear, headway 5f out, ridden 3f out, one pace
pulled way through to lead after 3f, headed 6f out, soon tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
always in rear, behind final 5f
led, headed after 3f, tailed off final 5f
in touch, ridden over 2f out, quickly beaten
Thorny Mandate is the tentative selection with Wizard Looking and Monsieur Dumas completing the short-list. The selection hails from a yard that does well in these contests and at this track. He struggled in the second half of last year but has slipped down the weights to an attractive mark as a result and ran well enough last time to suggest that a return to winning ways may be imminent. Wizard Looking landed a gamble for today's combination on his return from a lay-off at Lingfield in February. He's been slightly disappointing in two subsequent runs but it would be folly to rule him out of this contest. Monsieur Dumas has a fair bit more to prove as he embarks on a new campaign this afternoon. He is far from certain to stay this far and has yet to reproduce his undoubted ability on the track but if everything clicks then he would be hard to beat from his current mark. There are just too many ifs and buts surrounding his chance though so we'll put Thorny Mandate forwards.
Wizard Looking 7-1 (9-0) Taken to post early, held up in last place, headway approaching 3f out, ridden and weakened well over 1f out, 8th of 15, 11l behind Cavendish (8-8) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp (6) gd in Apr.
Monsieur Dumas (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (9-0) Held up, effort halfway, soon ridden, never dangerous, 8th of 12, 8l behind Alonso de Guzman (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Lordswood (IRE) 11-2 (8-6) Steadied start, held up, ridden 2f out, soon outpaced, last of 5, 13l behind Capitalise (8-5) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Starstruck Peter (IRE) 7-2fav (8-13) Bumped start, held up, headway 4f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed just over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 15, 4l behind Whaxaar (9-1) at Great Leighs 2m hcp (6) pol in Apr.
Treetops Hotel (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Held up, ridden 5f out, behind from over 1f out, last of 6, 25l behind Nawamees (9-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f clm (6) pol in Apr.
Thorny Mandate 12-1 (8-10) In touch, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 10, 5l behind Hatton Flight (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Apr.
Revolving World (IRE) 100-1 (8-2) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, last of 9, 10l behind Tonnante (8-11) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Sept.
Wee Ellie Coburn 33-1 (9-7) Keen and soon led, ridden and headed over 3f out, soon weakened, eased over 1f out, 6th of 7, 35l behind Lochiel (9-12) at Hamilton 1m 3f mdn aut stk (6) gs.
Cragganmore Creek 9-4fav (9-5) Keen, tracked leaders, chased leader over 3f out until over 1f out, soon edged left, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 9l behind Zaffeu (9-11) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Mar.
Gatecrasher 80-1 (10-1) Led until headed over 8f out, weakened over 5f out, tailed off, 11th of 12, 48l behind Ronsard (10-5) at W'hampton 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Fairly Honest 6-1 (8-8) Disputed lead, headed over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, soon well behind, 7th of 11, 17l behind Aphrodisia (9-2) at Brighton 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Apr.
Prince of Gold 20-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, in rear, no headway final 3f, last of 12, 16l behind Playtotheaudience (8-12) at W'hampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Mar.
