held up, never dangerous
tracked leaders, hard ridden over 1f out, soon led, held on under pressure
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, stayed on same pace
steadied start, held up in rear, short of room over 6f out, soon pulled hard and headway over 5f out, tracked leaders over 3f out, soon ridden to challenge, weakened over 1f out
not much room at start, held up in rear, headway and not clear run over 1f out, switched right, ran on, never nearer
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, never nearer
chased leaders, lost place over 3f out
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, headway well over 1f out, soon no impression
mid-division, headway 2f out, ran on final furlong, not reach winner
led until over 1f out, soon weakened
This field consists of some familiar and frustrating faces. It may be worth taking a chance with CALZAGHE ahead of Jeer and Alfie Tupper. Calzaghe held an entry for Friday so it remains to be seen how he gets on there but he could be of interest in this company with the blinkers on. The trip is short of his best but he does have a turn of foot, is feasibly handicapped and knows how to win. In recent starts the market has suggested that Jeer may be ready to strike again and he's sure to be popular with Jamie Spencer doing the steering. However, he is proving difficult to win with and may not represent any value. Alfie Tupper sports cheekpieces for the first time having been touched off by a nose on each of his last two starts. He's well handicapped despite a 2lb rise but everything you need to know about him can be gleaned from those last two results. That said, not many of these could be described as reliable and straightforwards but the selection does know how to win races so we'll opt for Calzaghe.
Alqaahir (USA) 10-1 (9-4) Held up toward rear, effort over 1f out, soon no impression, 6th of 7, 5l behind African Cheetah (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Jeer (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Led, took keen hold, headed over 9f out, tracked leaders, went 2nd well over 1f out until inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Sircozy (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 4f app hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Society Venue 5-1fav (9-5) Tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Spensley (8-9) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Rapid City 11-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, kept on inside final furlong, never near leaders, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Atacama Sunrise (8-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm stks 0-70 (6) pol in Dec.
Bavarica 9-1 (8-11) Mid-division, pushed along, headway from over 1f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Ella Woodcock (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Bosamcliff (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Chased winner until ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out, last of 5, 26l behind Shadows Lengthen (8-1) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Maybe I Will (IRE) 10-3fav (9-1) Held up in 5th and well off the pace, ridden and no response over 2f out, never in race, 6th of 9, 11l behind April Fool (8-13) at Bath 1m hcp 0-70 (5) fm in May.
Atacama Sunrise 13-2 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, soon driven, kept on same pace, 5th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Sedgwick (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Alfie Tupper (IRE) 2-1fav (9-2) Held up in touch, ridden to challenge over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, stayed on well under pressure, 2nd of 12, ns behind Sedgwick (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Charlie Smirke (USA) 9-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Erinjay (8-10) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Whodunit (UAE) 33-1 (8-5) Led until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 21l behind Defector (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Calzaghe (IRE) 4-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 5f out, soon pushed along, switched out when badly hampered 2f out, head high and kept on reluctantly inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Lady Hestia (8-8) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Apr.
