held up and keen, soon tracking leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
held up behind, fell 6th
behind, stayed on from 2 out, no impression
chased leader, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra flat
held up, badly hampered and unseated rider 6th
tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on
chased leaders, lost place after 4 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, led approaching last, driven out
led and keen, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on
A competitive handicap where it may pay to go Welsh with Evan Williams and AKARSHAN who gets the vote over Red And White and Sacrilege. In essence this is a tricky betting medium as a lot of the field are making their first foray into handicap company and some are bound to be better than their current mark. The selection could be one of these, as he has been holding his own in races since winning on his hurdling debut at Market Rasen in the summer. This decent ground around a quickish track looks sure to suit and punters look sure to get a fair run for their money. Dontpaytheferryman has top-weight today and whilst he has ability, a 5lb rise in the weights for being beaten 12 lengths on his last start looks harsh despite the strength of the form. Karky Schultz is back over hurdles after a run on the Kempton polytrack in January; he is still a maiden after 17 starts all told but is not one to rule out despite being another who has been raised in the handicap for a defeat. Moment Present is interesting on his third last time to Torphichen; that conqueror is now rated a major player for the best Novice races at Cheltenham. Loco Grande was ten lengths and one place further back on that occasion. Rory Boy's third to Red Admiral at Ludlow suggested that this sort of mark is not beyond him, and on a form line through Simarian he rates a threat to Akarshan. Sacrilege's run behind Giorgio Quercus at Musselburgh, along with Red And White's Warwick run behind Trenchant on his penultimate start look like two of the better bits of form on offer. A very tricky race and the tentative vote goes to Akarshan.
Dontpaytheferryman (USA) 14-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, chased leading pair approaching last, weakened flat, 5th of 6, 12l behind Stow (11-3) at Haydock 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) sft.
Akarshan (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Led, headed after 4th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 30l behind Walkon (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Dec.
Sacrilege 4-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 6, 9l behind Giorgio Quercus (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) gd.
Rory Boy (USA) 5-1jt-fav (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Red Admiral (11-8) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Karky Schultz (GER) 11-1 (9-11) In touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, led and hit 2 out, headed final 100 yards, one pace and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Kadouchski (11-3) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Moment Present (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Towards rear, headway after 5th, ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 12, 17l behind Torphichen (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Red And White (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, stayed on same pace from 3 out, 3rd of 9, 14l behind Ray Diamond (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy.
Loco Grande (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) In touch, closer order 6th, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 12, 27l behind Torphichen (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Agglestone Rock 12-1 (10-4) Behind, smooth headway from 3 out, chased leaders next, ridden and every chance approaching last, led run-in and driven out, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec beating Elite Land (10-11) by 3l, 14 ran.
