in touch, weakened 10th, tailed off
made all, stayed on strongly
in touch, outpaced 4 out, stayed on to take 2nd near finish
tracked winner, stayed until 11th, effort 3 out, one pace and lost 2nd near finish
tracked leaders, reminders 9th, weakened approaching 3 out
always behind, struggling from 8th, in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
This looks a good opportunity for ROSIE ALL OVER to complete a hat-trick, while More Likely should emerge as the leading danger. The selection is saddled by the bang-in-form Donald McCain, and she looks to have improvement in her after a couple of good staying wins at Kelso and Exeter. Bottomless ground suits and this drop back in trip should not be a major drawback as she did win over the trip earlier in the year, so we will side with her. More Likely has certainly enjoyed the switch to fences, winning at Kelso and then running well for a long way before an 8lb hike in the weights took its toll back there last time. The return to this trip perhaps looks a little more problematic than for the selection and so we will take her on here. Star Of Raven has clearly had some problems and has not been seen out since May of last year. A 5lb drop will help and she can be effective at this trip. The ground also suits and it will be interesting to find out what the market says of her chance from out of the handicap. Trip and ground suit Chickapeakray, and although Donald McCain's runner may look second string material she has won over course and distance and from around this mark, and she could be well capable of fighting out the finish with her stable companion if on a going day. Minster Abbi has her optimum trip and conditions and has dropped to a competitive mark once more, so she could figure, but we are happy to side with Rosie All Over.
Scarvagh Diamond (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Held up, reminders after 8th, struggling from next, 6th of 7, well behind Companero (11-12) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
More Likely 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden and went poor 2nd last, 2nd of 9, 19l behind Hello Bud (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
Chickapeakray 11-2 (11-2) Prominent, outpaced 4 out, beaten when mistake 2 out, 7th of 9, 43l behind Zitenka (11-7) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Rosie All Over 9-2jt-fav (11-12) Led 4th until 6th, led 10th, hard pressed and under pressure from 3 out, headed last, rallied to lead soon after, all out, won at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Laudamus (11-0) by a shd, 9 ran.
Minster Abbi 6-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, driven when hampered 9th, soon weakened, 7th of 15, 49l behind River Reine (9-11) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Star of Raven 10-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, hit 2nd, headway 6th out, chased winner 2 out until weakened flat, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Sharp Jack (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in May '07.
