chased leaders and inside, outpaced after 4 out, driven and stayed on to chase winner when mistake 2 out, soon ridden and one pace
held up, ridden 4 out, soon beaten
chased clear leader to halfway, soon lost place, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, went 2nd halfway, ridden and effort 3 out, one pace from next
held up, behind when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, driven and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon no impression
held up, smooth headway 4 out, led next, driven and kept on well
chased leaders to 4 out, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 2 out,
mid-division, weakened 4 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before last
led and clear, blundered and headed 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before last
always towards rear,
Nonrunner
Not many can be fancied here, and so My Good Lord is the pick despite topweight, with El Andaluz and Named At Dinner the only likely dangers. Middleham trainer George Moore has his team ticking over nicely at present, and his patient policy with My Good Lord was rewarded when the seven-year-old finally came good at Sedgefield last week. His success in a conditional jockeys' affair came as no surprise after his decent run over the same track-and-trip earlier, and with Tom O'Brien again in the plate, he rates a sound bet in this company. The only negative would be if it rained and the ground turned softer than it already is, as he prefers faster conditions really. However, if his trainer lets him run, take the hint. El Andaluz has not been seen since finishing third over fences at Musselburgh in January but he makes more appeal than the rest for a place at least, while Named At Dinner will at least be fitter than most, but that is about all. There is plenty of dead wood here, and the only thing that can stop My Good Lord from following up is a deterioration in ground conditions.
My Good Lord (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden, held on towards finish, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Sept beating Willywont He (10-0) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Hollows Mist 10-1 (10-9) Led, headed 4 out, weakened next, 9th of 13, well behind Wee William (11-9) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Jun.
Presenting Alf (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) In touch, ridden 3 out, weakened from next, 6th of 14, 26l behind My Good Lord (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Sept.
El Andaluz (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Held up, ridden from 14th, no chance with first 2, 3rd of 6, 18l behind Magnificent Seven (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m nov chs (4) gf in Jan.
Named At Dinner 5-1 (10-2) Mid-division, outpaced 6th, soon behind, tailed off from 3 out, 4th of 9, well behind Another Superman (10-6) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Sept.
Nicozetto (FR) 14-1 (9-13) Mid-division, headway 6th, effort 3 out, weakened from next, 6th of 12, 13l behind High Country (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Aug.
Generals Laststand (IRE) 11-2 (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 15, 40l behind Caesar's Palace (11-9) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Loscar (FR) 13-2 (10-6) Behind, headway 7th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, no impression from next, 4th of 13, 34l behind Primitive Poppy (10-5) at Cartmel 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gs in May '05.