in touch, ridden over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, faded final furlong
tracked leader, keen, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong
held up, in touch, going well, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong
led, ridden, headed over 1f out, weakened
towards rear, never a factor
soon behind
prominent, lost place after 2f, kept on under pressure final furlong
slowly into stride, always in rear
always towards rear
Soft Focus is a bit of a professional loser, but we will give her one more chance to get her head in front where it matters, Shirley Oaks and Segoria may provide most danger. Jamie Osborne's filly has contested some decent handicaps this month finishing runner up on each occasion. As a result her handicap mark has gone up but this does look a fairly weak event and she is taken to end a frustrating run. Shirley Oaks makes a quick return to the racecourse having finished a close up third behind Boanerges last week and has to be respected. Meanwhile Segoria, a dual Lingfield scorer last month, is still on a pretty fair mark. The pick of the remainder could be the Eric Alston trained Tiviski, but if any horse deserves a victory it is Soft Focus and this one gets our tentative vote.
Soft Focus (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (9-2) Mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one paced inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Arnie de Burgh (9-4) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Triple Zero (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Always prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, not quicken well inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Lucius Verrus (8-11) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) std.
Tiviski (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, edged left, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Shadow Jumper (8-11) at W'hampton 6f sll (6) pol.
Segoria (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Slowly into stride, headway when hampered inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, 6th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Bollin Billy (9-2) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Holly Springs 28-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, one pace final furlong, 4th of 11, 4l behind Sands Crooner (8-8) at W'hampton 5f mdn stk (5) pol.
Secret Vision (USA) 8-1 (8-5) Not much room start, soon outpaced, headway 1f out, ran on, nearest finish, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Times Review (8-9) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Park Star 8-1 (9-1) Broke well, mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 3l behind Trouble Maker (9-4) at W'hampton 6f banded stk (7) pol.
Shirley Oaks (IRE) 50-1 (8-13) In touch, outpaced halfway, switched left, headway over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Boanerges (8-13) at Southwell 5f banded stk (7) fbs.