held up, some headway over 2f out, never dangerous
raced keen, held up, headway 6f out, ridden over 2f out, not quicken final furlong
close up, led 10f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
behind from halfway
led 4f, led again over 2f out, driven out
held up, ridden and some headway over 1f out, one pace
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway 7f out, ridden over 3f out, one pace
held up, headway over 5f out, switched right over 3f out, soon ridden and one pace
in touch, lost touch 6f out, ridden over 4f out, headway 3f out, one pace
close up, ridden halfway, weakened over 3f out
close up, ridden over 4f out, weakened well over 2f out
An ordinary staying handicap may go to Pop Gun while Court Alliance, Nightwatchman and Aphra Benn rate as the main dangers. The Barry Hills-trained gelding was well placed to land a Bath handicap off a low mark in late March and has been far from disgraced in defeat since, putting up a game effort when just denied on a return visit to the same venue last month. The step up to this trip may well bring further improvement from this relatively lightly raced son of Pharly who will relish the fast conditions. Court Alliance stepped up on previous efforts when coming late to land a similar event at Newbury last week but had little to spare at the line and a 6lb penalty may be enough to prevent a follow up. Nightwatchman finished a length behind at the Berkshire track and may be able to reverse the placings on these terms while Aphra Benn ran below his best last time but has place claims on his earlier third off a 5lb higher mark at Leicester.
