towards rear, plenty to do when headway over 1f out, switched right final furlong, ran on, not reach winner
held up, headway over 3f out, kept on just failed
tracked leaders and keen, weakened over 4f out
soon led and set steady pace, quickened up 3f out, hard ridden and headed close home
mid-division, weakened over 3f out
towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on
in touch, ridden 3f out, kept on well under pressure to lead close home
broke well, steadied, switched right and headway over 4f out, ridden 2f out, faded final furlong
tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong
in rear, detached approaching straight over 1f out, late headway
in touch, lost place over 6f out
always in rear
Nonrunner
Reg Hollinshead does well with with his runners here and it could pay to side with STRAVITA who is preferred to Blue Hills and Irish Ballad. The selection wasn't beaten far in a handicap at Catterick last month and she shaped as though she could be worth trying over this slightly longer trip. She has won here in the past and she looks worth chancing at the forecast odds. Blue Hills is back on a fair mark and he did not get the race run to suit at Southwell last time when he chased home Cumbrian Knight. He won this race last year and he should be capable of getting into the shake-up. Irish Ballad is also a course and distance winner and he won by a nose when he got the better of Mohawk Star at Lingfield last time. He should run his race again, although this looks competitive and others are preferred. Sir Sandicliffe did not get home last time so this drop in distance is a plus, but this looks a good opportunity for Stravita who can get back to winning ways.
Sir Sandicliffe (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Mid-division, one pace from over 2f out, 5th of 14, 12l behind Quitit (8-13) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Oct.
Top Tiger 6-1 (9-6) Tracked leader, led 4f out, ridden, headed over 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 9l behind Kylkenny (8-6) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
King's Jester (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, ridden and weakened 4f out, 12th of 14, 29l behind Deccan Express (8-6) at Down Royal 1m 2f handicap gd in Jun '07.
Blue Hills 4-1jt-fav (11-6) Chased leading pair, ridden 3f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, still every chance, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1l behind Cumbrian Knight (11-4) at Southwell 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol.
Astania 16-1 (9-7) Behind, headway 3f out and in touch, soon ridden and weakened quickly 2f out, 13th of 14, 16l behind Penchesco (9-7) at Windsor 1m 3yo hcp (5) sft in Jul.
Stravita 15-2 (9-5) Held up mid-division, effort over 3f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on, 3rd of 14, 3l behind Covert Mission (8-13) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Oct.
Irish Ballad 12-1 (8-11) In touch, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, pressed leader, rallied well inside final furlong to lead final strides, won at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol beating Mohawk Star (9-9) by a ns, 14 ran.
Rahy's Crown (USA) 10-1 (8-13) Tracked leader to 2f out, weakened rapidly, last of 14, 15l behind Saucy (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Purely By Chance 20-1 (9-1) Held up mid-division, reminders over 5f out, struggling from over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 14, 11l behind Epsom Salts (8-10) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Peas 'n Beans (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Keen, prominent, led 9f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 16l behind Weybridge Light (8-11) at Great Leighs 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Reminiscent (IRE) 12-1 (8-4) Held up in rear, slightly hampered over 3f out, some headway to go 4th well over 1f out, never near leaders, 4th of 8, 9l behind Little Richard (9-10) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Mar.
Golondrina 33-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 5f out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 22l behind Ice Bellini (8-12) at Newcastle 1m 4f mdn aut stk (6) hvy in Oct.
I'm Agenius 25-1 (9-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened over 5f out, tailed off final 3f, 12th of 13, well behind Cumbrian Knight (11-4) at Southwell 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol.
