close up in rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on without troubling winner
tracked leader, travelled well, led 2f out, ridden overf 1f out, won well
led, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra
mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off
Mark Johnston sent out the inaugural winner of this and trains three of the four runners. SILVER SHADE is the only one proven over the trip having finished runner-up at Lingfield on last month’s handicap debut. He’s preferred to stablemates Ventura Kingdom and Myrtle Maclagan but Richard Hannon's Sergeant Major would have every chance if lasting home, despite a 6lb rise for winning over 1m2f at Chelmsford last time.
Sergeant Major Evensfav (9-4) Close up, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Mar beating Beija Flor (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Silver Shade (FR) 13-2 (8-11) Restless in stalls, dwelt in rear, wide and headway to chase leader 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Damned Elusive (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Ventura Kingdom (FR) 7-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders out wide, went 2nd 8f out, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and lost 2nd inside final 2f, weakened 1f out, 5th of 6, 11 1/2l behind Classy Dame (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Myrtle Maclagan (IRE) 15-2 (9-6) Switched left start, held up in rear, never on terms, 9th of 11, 21 1/4l behind Diamond And Gold (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.