in touch, not clear run and lost place 3f out, kept on inside from over 1f out
always towards rear
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3f out
soon tracking leaders, weakened over 4f out
held up in touch and keen, led well over 1f out, ran on
held up, headway over 3f out, every chance well inside final furlong, no extra
slowly into stride, towards rear, brief effort on outside over 2f out
keen, tracking leaders, weakening when hampered over 2f out
keen hold in rear, headway on inside approaching 3f out, ridden and weakened approaching final furlong
led, ridden 3f out, headed over 1f out, kept on
held up towards rear, ridden 4f out, some progress 2f out
soon tracking leaders, every chance 2f out, hampered and switched right inside final furlong, ran on
A race made difficult through the appalling draws of some of the market principals which should include Haunt The Zoo, Escalade and Josear and our verdict is for the latter. Stuart Williams' charge still managed to win a tri-banded stakes at Southwell in spite of bombing down to post and if the jockey can calm him on the way to post, he should have a serious chance of a follow up. Haunt The Zoo is a likeable horse for all her quirks and modestness. The ten-year-old has yet to win at Dunstall Park since 1993, having raced at Southwell in the main. Escalade is often backed in spite of an appaling win record on the all-weather. It will be interesting to see if his legions of backers step in again. Spanish Star is capable of winning on his day but is out of form. However, on a more positive note, his trainer Norma Macauley did send out a winner in the week so his progress should be monitored in the betting ring. Marengo ran badly in an amateur's race earlier in the week and is left alone. Josear should beat these providing he makes it safely to post.
Farnborough (USA) 12-1 Held up towards rear, headway 3f out, edged left and ran on final furlong, 3rd of 13, 7l behind True To Yourself at Southwell 1m 4f stk (H5) fbs in Dec.
First of May 25-1 Hampered soon after start, never better than mid-division, 7th of 12, 4l behind Champain Sands at W'hampton 1m 1f app stk (H5) pol.
Fortunes Favourite 10-1 Tracked leaders, led over 3f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Coolfore Jade at W'hampton 1m 1f stk (H5) pol in Feb.
Josear 4-7fav Pulled hard, raced wide in touch, led over 4f out, clear over 1f out, comfortably, won at Southwell 1m stk (H5) fbs beating Showtime Faye by 6l, 7 ran.