A competitive handicap in which about five make appeal. The winner will need to stay this longer distance well and with three last-time-out winners in the line-up, it promises to be very tough. Most of the runners are stepping up in trip and it is not out of the question that one or two will improve massively for the extra couple of furlongs. Lively Fling and King Of Wands head the betting and both come here in good form, while Darley Sun has form over this distance having won over it last time.
Lively Fling looks interesting stepped up from 1m 4f last time, where he was second behind a horse of Mark Johnston's. He has only had three runs in his short career, and after making his debut in a hot 1m maiden at Doncaster last season, trainer John Gosden ran him in a race with four furlongs extra and he improved for the longer distance. Under Ryan Moore at Leicester that day, he took a while to get going but once his stamina kicked in, he stayed on strongly to win by two lengths. On his last start, he was upped in class in a three-runner race, again at Leicester, but he failed to contain Holberg, who looks a thorough stayer. Lively Fling is still entered in the Derby, and while that looks very ambitious, his connections obviously hold him in some regard and this step to 1m 6f may bring out some more improvement in this Dynaformer colt.
King Of Wands comes from the in-form yard of John Dunlop and on his first start in a handicap, looks sure to improve. He shed his maiden tag last time out at Folkestone over 1m 4f, a performance which indicated he is laden with stamina. He was well-backed that day and his three runs in his two-year-old season suggested he would appreciate middle-distances and that belief was vindicated as he galloped to a ready success. He showed a good attitude under Eddie Ahern as he kept finding for pressure and he should improve for the extra two furlongs. This son of Galileo found the ground plenty quick enough last time out and he encounters similar conditions today. He would prefer some ease in the ground but this faster surface shouldn't be a problem and may help him to get the trip. He looks an improving horse and he should go close.
Darley Sun arrives here fresh from a win at Nottingham over today's trip of 1m 6f and he looks sure to go well. He was another horse to improve for the step up to longer distances this season after running over shorter in his two-year-old career. He has gone up 6lb in the handicap for his two-length win last time and he could well find that within his grasp. Darryl Holland takes the ride again for trainer David Simcock, and, likely to be held up, will be staying on at the finish. He was impressive last time and showed huge improvement to win easily. He was in rear for most of the contest and with most of his rival's struggling with the strong headwind, he was angled for a run and powered home in the final furlong to win going away. That success came on fast ground and he has similar conditions today so a big run is expected. He does have to compete against some unexposed horses but he has solid form over the distance and should run into the placings at least.
Cry For The Moon is another who won on his last start, that over 1m 4f against some exposed sorts. He had some good form as a juvenile, finishing seven lengths being Delegator on his first start and running well over a mile thereafter. Trainer Amanda Perrett upped him up trip for his seasonal debut and he hung on by a neck to score. He was held up before staying on well to lead, and he was all out to repel the late challenge of Canmoss. He has gone up 5lbs in the handicap for that win but he may benefit for the extra two furlongs. Today's going of good will suit and he has Jim Crowley in the saddle.
Penang Princess finished behind Darley Sun last time and needs to improve to reverse the form. He has improved for the step up in trip and his handicap mark of 71 looks fair. El Bravo is an exposed runner and will do well to win off his current handicap mark. His mark of 77 looks tough to overcome and Gary Moore's runner's best form has been on the all-weather or on softer ground than today.
Selections: 1st - King Of Wands, 2nd - Darley Sun, 3rd - Lively Fling.
Result: - 1st - Penang Princess, 8/1, 2nd - King Of Wands, 7/2 joint-fav, 3rd - Cry For The Moon, 15/2.
A falsely-run affair which produced a game winner in Penang Princess, who held off the determined King Of Wands to score by half a length. A slow gallop early on resulted in many being too keen in behind and that forced Jimmy Fortune to stride on to quicken it up aboard Lively Fling. After increasing the pace, he slowed it right up again rounding the final turn and it resulted in somewhat of a sprint rather than a thorough test. Credit must go to the winner as she battled on well up the straight to overcome King Of Wands. The winner took a while to get going under Ted Durcan but once she hit top gear she stayed on strongly to win going away. She looked up against it to reverse Nottingham form with Darley Sun but she did so in good style. She may be able to pick up another race similar to this one. King Of Wands ran a good race in second and improved for the step up in trip. He raced in the mid-division throughout under Eddie Ahern and travelled strongly for most of the journey. He came there cruising two furlongs out and took over from a weakening Lively Fling and looked likely to win but found Penang Princess only too strong in the final 100 yards. He will win again if he keeps on improving. Cry For The Moon looked slightly unlucky as he was hampered when he was making his move. He was in rear under Jim Crowley and was moving up the field when he has checked. He stayed on nicely and should pick up another race. Darley Sun ran an odd race in fourth. He was always last under Darryl Holland and never looked likely to win but stayed on in taking fashion in the final furlong. He got going all too late and the leading pair were gone by the time he picked up. If he is ridden more prominently next time out he could go closer. Lively Fling ran disappointingly after making the running. He simply failed to pick up and weakened out of it. He may need a drop back to a mile and a half.
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