in rear, weakened over 2f out
held up in touch, ridden over 2, stayed on final furlong, no impression
led early, tracked leader and keen, led well over 2f out, soon ridden, clear inside final furlong
held up in touch, ridden and headway well over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 3f out soon weakened
held up and keen, hung left from over 4f out, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
held up towards rear, weakened well over 2f out
soon led, ridden and headed well over 2f out, soon weakened
None of these make any great appeal in an uninspiring contest and what can only be a tentative vote goes to Askwith, who is preferred to Musardiere and Nowaday. None of the eight runners has won a race to date but at least the selection has shown promise and is entitled to strip fitter for his reappearance at Catterick when probably failing to stay 1m4f. His pedigree suggests that Askwith should handle the ground and James Bethell's gelding makes more appeal than Discomania, who has given little sign of encouragement on the all-weather this winter. Nowaday should go on the ground but is held by the selection on juvenile form, while the Willie Jarvis-trained Killena Boy seemed not to handle the ground when disappointing on his final start at two. A market move for Musardiere would be of interest, while Shankly Bond and Trigony are open to improvement on their respective debuts in a handicap. A bad race to be getting involved then but Askwith holds more solid claims than most and gets the vote.
Discomania 40-1 Tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakened, last of 9, 20l behind Sorbiesharry at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp pol.
Nowaday (GER) 18-1 Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 8th of 14, 11l behind Secret History at Thirsk 7f 2yo mdn aut (E) gs in Aug.
Killena Boy (IRE) 100-1 Raced far side, led over 4f out until well over 1f out, 26th of 29, 21l behind Cape Columbine at Newmarket 6f 2yo aut (B1) sft in Oct.
Shankly Bond (IRE) 50-1 Mid-division, headway under pressure over 3f out, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, no impression inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 9l behind Hadrian at Thirsk 7f 2yo mdn (D3) gf in Sept.
Askwith (IRE) 20-1 Towards rear, never a factor, 9th of 16, 27l behind Royal Flynn at Catterick 1m 4f 3yo hcp gd.
Musardiere 20-1 Mid-division, never dangerous, 10th of 16, 26l behind Sirce at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo hcp sft.
Trigony (IRE) 100-1 Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 10, 8l behind Spear at Redcar 1m 1f 2yo mdn (D3) frm in Sept.
Hamburg Springer (IRE) 40-1 Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 8th of 14, 19l behind Summer Charm at Southwell 1m 2f 3yo hcp gf.
