held up in touch, headway on inner 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon edged right, driven out
in rear, pushed along over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
led early, tracked leader and keen, ridden over 1f out, no extra final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 2f out
David Lanigan's SPARKLING SMILE showed much improved form when running in a handicap and stepped up in trip on her reappearance when scoring readily at Beverley last week so she has an obvious chance of scoring again and looks hard to oppose in a race where the main dangers look to be High Rolling and Gritstone. Richard Fahey's gelding made an encouraging first run of the season when third to Bear Tobouggie in a maiden here over one furlong shorter on soft ground and he has to be respected on the better ground today making his debut in a handicap off what seems a fair mark. Bryan Smart's Storm Command has plenty to find with the selection on running here last time, while Micky Hammond's Meetings Man has been well held in both outings this term but has been given a chance by the handicapper. Alan McCabe's Sharakti is lightly raced and does not look to be particularly well treated first time in a handicap and of more interest may be High Rolling. Tim Easterby's gelding disappointed on his return to action at Pontefract recently but he is better than he showed that day and the yard have their runners in good from so he has to be considered but it is hard to oppose Sparkling Smile, who looks to be the one to beat.
Sparkling Smile (IRE) 10-11fav (9-0) Tracked leaders on inside, switched outside over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, eased inside final furlong, won at Beverley 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Monkton Vale (9-4) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Gritstone 15-8fav (8-11) Led early, tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 6f out, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed 1f out, not quicken, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Bear Tobouggie (8-6) at Redcar 1m 1f mdn stks (5) sft.
Sharakti (IRE) 100-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Zuider Zee (9-3) at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo mdn aut (4) gd.
High Rolling 10-1 (9-0) Always in rear, 8th of 10, 34l behind Cornish Beau (8-12) at Pontefract 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Storm Command (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, short of room soon after, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 7l behind Sparkling Smile (9-0) at Beverley 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Meetings Man (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) In rear, ridden over 3f out, wide and headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 7l behind Cornish Beau (8-12) at Pontefract 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
