held up behind, headway when not clear run 2f out, stayed on final furlong
took keen hold towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden to lead well over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up towards rear, switched left and raced alone in centre from 3f out, stayed on final 2f
slowly into stride, chased leader after 1f, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
some progress under pressure from over 2f out, but mainly towards rear
chased leaders, ridden and every chance well over 1f out, kept on final furlong
mid-division, not clear run 3f out, soon ridden, good progress over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well
mid-division, headway 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace final 2f
slowly into stride, soon in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, eased when beaten
led until well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
never better than mid-division
took keen hold in mid-division, ridden 3f out, stayed on towards finish
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, faded final furlong
always behind
This doesn't look the strongest of handicaps and from a shortlist of Nice Time, Breadstick and DEVIL TO PAY, it is the last-named who is taken to prevail. The selection unsurprisingly stepped up on his two-year-old efforts over seven furlongs when only beaten by three lengths on his handicap debut over 10 furlongs at Bath recently. On that occasion he was held up off the pace and never really threatened to win but he should have come on for the race and is fancied to run well here at a fair price. Nice Time enters handicaps on a mark of 68; she is bred to do better as a three-year-old and although she is not sure to get this trip on pedigree, she shapes as if it will suit. Harleston Snake, Highway Magic, Breadstick and Sumani are all making their handicap debuts today and need watching in the betting; there are lots of runners in this handicap who are open to plentyo of improvement. Hold The Bucks won last time but his wins have come in lesser company and he may find something improving past him. Arrogance needs to improve, whilst money for Mystic Touch, a rare flat runner for Emma Lavelle, would be interesting. A very tricky handicap for punters to work out but we will side with Devil To Pay.
Nice Time (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway on inside entering final 2f, every chance inside final furlong, ridden to lead final strides, won at Great Leighs 1m 2yo mdn fll (5) pol in Nov beating Penperth (8-11) by hd, 11 ran.
Breadstick 6-1 (9-0) Led, driven and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Charlotte Point (9-0) at Great Leighs 1m 2yo mdn fll stks (4) pol in Oct.
Hold The Bucks (USA) 11-2 (8-6) In touch, under pressure 2f out, no impression and 4th over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to lead final strides, won at Kempton 1m 3yo clm stks (6) pol in Apr beating Bartica (8-13) by hd, 8 ran.
Harlestone Snake 66-1 (9-3) In rear, effort over 2f out, soon edged right and weakened, 11th of 13, 11l behind Opinion Poll (9-3) at Leicester 1m 2yo mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Lilly Blue (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Towards rear, driven and headway 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 5l behind Spinning Waters (8-11) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) fm in Apr.
Lucky Score (IRE) 20-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Shooting Party (9-3) at Windsor 1m 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Devil To Pay 7-1 (9-1) Held up, ridden over 2f out, some progress soon after, 7th of 13, 4l behind Lyra's Daemon (9-4) at Bath 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Apr.
Arrogance 33-1 (8-10) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, kept on approaching final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 9, 10l behind Solar Graphite (8-9) at Folkestone 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Apr.
Lennie Briscoe (IRE) 5-1fav (8-13) Held up and keen, hampered over 5f out, switched right and headway on outside over 2f out, ridden and edging left from over 1f out, one pace, 6th of 13, 3l behind Lyra's Daemon (9-4) at Bath 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Apr.
Mystic Touch 14-1 (9-3) Held up, ridden and behind final 2f, last of 7, 16l behind Puzzlemaster (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Apr.
Jewelled Reef (IRE) 28-1 (9-4) Raced wide, mid-division, ridden and effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 15, 9l behind Cornish Castle (9-8) at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Apr.
Sumani (FR) 25-1 (8-10) Held up, pulled hard, never dangerous, 5th of 6, 13l behind Muraweg (8-10) at Lingfield 1m mdn auc stks (6) pol in Mar.
Heartsease 40-1 (9-4) Led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Urban Space (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Apr.
Royal Arthur 100-1 (9-0) Slowly away, always in rear, last of 10, 20l behind Mohathab (10-0) at Lingfield 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Apr.
Highway Magic (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) With leader until over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 18l behind Emirates Champion (9-3) at Great Leighs 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Innactualfact 33-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 3f out, 11th of 13, 18l behind Cornish Castle (8-12) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Apr.
