slowly into stride, held up, headway 2f out, led into final furlong, ran on well
in touch, pushed along halfway, outpaced when clipped heels and unseated rider over 1f out
midfield, headway and not much room 2f out, switched right over 1f out, not clear run entering final furlong, stayed on well towards finish
towards rear, ridden halfway, headway under pressure 2f out, no impression final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden 2f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra
slowly into stride, soon midfield, effort 2f out, edged right and no extra final furlong
A weak sprint handicap may go to Hiccups while Count Cougar, Rue de Paris and Cleveland Way look the likeliest alternatives. Lynda Ramsden's charge showed plenty of promise in maiden company before making his handicap debut over six furlongs at Nottingham earlier in the month. The son of Polar Prince was the subject of strong market support but ruined his chance by missing the break and then appeared to lack for stamina in the closing stages. The handicapper has relented and dropped the selection 2lb since while the return to the minimum trip and a sharper exit from the stalls should see this unexposed sort in better light. Count Cougar is another lightly raced sort who looks capable of a little further improvement and has to be respected after a close second in a minor event at Musselburgh last time. Rue de Paris remains a maiden having had plenty of chances but shaped encouragingly last time and, along with Cleveland Way, is another to consider for a place but Hiccups looks capable of better than he's shown to date and gets the nod under Jamie Spencer.
