held up in touch, headway over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, driven out
tracked leaders, raced keenly, effort over 2f out, soon one pace
held up in rear, pushed along over 2f out, hung left under pressure over 1f out, never troubled leaders
held up in touch, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
settled towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon weakened
always in rear, never on terms
chased leaders, under pressure over 2f out, faded over 1f out
Watch Chain won over 6f on fast ground here last summer and has shown himself to be suited by this extra furlong since, scoring at Southwell in November. Mark Tompkins' charge is certainly one for the short-list in this low-grade handicap while it would be no surprise to see Oh So Spicy go close as she's run well in both previous starts at this track, including on her debut here last June. Vertumnus may struggle back on turf, however, and Norcroft races from out of the handicap proper so the vote goes to CROCODILE BAY. He was just beaten in a first-time eyeshield at Wolverhampton two weeks ago and Kieren Fallon's booking is a positive here.
Batgirl 6-1 (8-13) Took keen hold, held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, no progress when edged left over 1f out, eased when no chance final furlong, 9th of 12, 9l behind Rosedale (9-1) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Oct.
Watch Chain (IRE) 11-4 (8-10) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, disputing modest 3rd 2f out until inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 13l behind Ingleby King (8-7) at Southwell 1m hcp (0-65) (6) fbs in Nov.
Clearing House 6-1 (9-7) Close up and keen, led 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 12l behind Teen Ager (8-6) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Bennelong 33-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 14, 34l behind Know No Fear (8-8) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Oct.
Oh So Spicy 12-1 (8-11) Held up in mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 12, 23l behind Recalcitrant (8-12) at Brighton 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Sep.
Jamarjo (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 12, 11l behind Al Shababiya (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in May.
Crocodile Bay (IRE) 7-1 (8-7) Pulled hard in mid-division, headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind El Libertador (9-0) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Vertumnus 20-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, headway on outside over 2f out, soon ridden along and no impression, 11th of 13, 5l behind Dickie Le Davoir (8-10) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-52 (6) pol in Mar.
Norcroft 9-1 (8-0) In rear, ridden halfway, kept on from over 1f out, never near leaders, 4th of 10, 7l behind Bold Diva (8-13) at Southwell 7f hcp (0-55) (6) fbs.