in touch, headway over 2f out, pressed leader from over 1f out, driven and stayed on to lead towards finish (hand timed)
chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
in touch, ridden 2f out, edged left and kept on final furlong, not pace to challenge
in rear, ridden over 2f out, never troubled leaders
held up, never near leaders
in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out
behind from 5f out
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, no extra final furlong
held up, reminders half way, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged right and headed towards finish
mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden and weakened over 1f out
Withdrawn
CRYSTALLIZE can defy a six-pounds penalty to land this, and is selected in preference to Baby Josr and Silent Treatment. Andrew Haynes' gelding is giving weight away all round after winning at Wolverhampton last time out at the seventh time of asking. It was a narrow victory, but given that the jockey lost his whip he did well to see off a couple of challenges. Previously he's found some trouble in-running, but after a clear trip on the Polytrack, he's shown signs of ability when getting a run. Captain Cavendish is the only other runner here to have won at this trip, but that was eight runs back, and he's shown little of note since. Baby Josr is five founds higher than winning a six furlongs handicap at Wolverhampton a couple of months ago, and may need to come down a little further to get truly competitive, but the ability is there. Being drawn in stall one is a big negative though. Silent Treatment is having his first run since September, and his first beyond six furlongs. Gay Kellaway's runners are always to be respected here though, and support would be encouraging. We're not always keen on backing those racing under a penalty at this sort of level, but the exception to the rule is Crystallize.
Crystallize 13-2 (9-1) Held up mid-division, headway well over 1f out, ridden to lead when rider dropped whip inside final furlong, held on, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol beating Hold The Star (9-4) by shd, 12 ran.
Baby Josr 14-1 (8-6) Held up, ridden over 3f out, no impression, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Advisor (9-4) at Windsor 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
Silent Treatment (IRE) 5-1fav (8-11) Chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 11l behind The Cuckoo (9-7) at Southwell 5f 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Sep.
Kings Ace (IRE) 7-4fav (9-4) In touch, carried wide after 2f, beaten when eased over 1f out, 7th of 11, 12l behind Pepin (8-11) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Almazar 9-1 (9-4) Led early, raced keenly, remained prominent, weakened final furlong, 5th of 17, 7l behind Bob Stock (9-4) at Warwick 1m 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
L'Arco Baleno (IRE) 22-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, always last, last of 15, 21l behind Cornish Castle (9-8) at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Apr.
Sister Clement (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, soon in touch, hampered and lost place 4f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 5th of 13, 3l behind Arachnophobia (9-4) at Great Leighs 6f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Twenty Score 18-1 (8-9) Mid-division, held from halfway, 9th of 11, 10l behind Pinball (8-1) at Bath 6f (5) fm.
Dancing Wave 250-1 (8-12) Always behind, weakened over 2f out, last of 6, well behind Sariska (8-12) at York 1m 2f fll stks Group 3 (1) gf.
Captain Cavendish (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Broke well, soon lost place, mostly in rear after, 8th of 12, 12l behind Crystallize (9-1) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Jonnie Skull (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Led early, remained prominent, led again over 8f out, headed over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 4th of 9, 24l behind Melange (9-3) at Southwell 1m 3f 3yo mdn auc stks (6) fbs in Apr.
Itsher 6-1 (8-7) Led, ridden 2f out, edged left over 1f out, hung badly left under pressure and headed final half furlong, soon lost 2nd, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Imperial Skylight (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Feb.
Itainteasybeingme 25-1 (7-13) 15th of 18, 22l behind River Captain (9-4) at Epsom Downs 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Apr.
Join Up 12-1 (9-0) Pressed leaders, every chance over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 13l behind Crystallize (9-1) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Eye For The Girls 50-1 (9-0) Mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 19l behind Eastern Empire (9-0) at Goodwood 1m mdn stks (5) gf.
Isabella Romee (IRE) 40-1 (8-4) Held up, headway over 2f out, soon under pressure, weakening when hampered over 1f out, 6th of 13, 6l behind Timeteam (9-5) at Great Leighs 6f 2yo clm stks (5) pol in Oct.
