tracked leader, hard ridden to chase winner over 1f out, just failed
reared start, always in rear, hampered inside final furlong and switched right
held up, headway on wide outside over 2f out, soon struggling
tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, hanging under pressure and soon weakened
held up in touch, headway to join leaders over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, took 3rd well inside final furlong
made all, ridden over 1f out, challenged well inside final furlong, kept on gamely
It is hard to get away from BLACKTOFT in this handicap and he is nominated to get the better of Spirit of Adjisa and Wine 'n Dine. The selection does have a penalty for his win last time out when he beat New Star here, but the manner of that success marked him down as one to stay on the right side of. Spirit of Adjisa ran well on his return from a break last time when he had Remember Ramon behind him, so he could give the form a boost in the previous race.Wine 'n Dine has been running well but is arguably better over further. We will stick with Blacktoft as the pick.
Wine 'n Dine 13-2 (8-5) Mid-division, ridden, headway over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Robby Bobby (8-8) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Jan.
Boo 10-1 (9-7) Soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 16l behind Clear Reef (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
United Nations 5-4 (9-3) Tracked leader, driven 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2l behind All In The Red (8-11) at Southwell 1m sll (6) fbs.
Spirit of Adjisa (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, ran on to take 2nd well inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Scarab (8-11) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Blacktoft (USA) Evensfav (8-11) Held up in 4th, improved to lead over 2f out, shaken up over 1f out, soon in no danger, easily, won at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol beating New Star (8-13) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Wind Flow 6-1 (9-1) Led after 2f, ridden and headed approaching 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 13l behind Bell Island (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.