held up in touch and keen, headway to go prominent 6th, outpaced 2 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
chased leaders, weakening when approaching 4 out
held up, headway after 4 out, weakening when jumped slow 3 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, weakened approaching 6th
prominent, led 5th until 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, no impression from next
chased leaders, led 4 out, kept on under pressure from last, driven out
in touch, every chance approachin g 3 out, kept on same pace
held up, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out
always towards rear, weakened from 7, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up, effort under pressure approaching 3 out, soon weakened
led to 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Three against the field here are Cash Man, Jemez and Stradbrook and the latter is the one for us. Jonjo O'Neill-trained Stradbrook made a pleasing British debut when second of 10 to Habanero in August and has been given a break since. He clearly goes well fresh, acts with cut and has the pedigree to improve for this extra half mile, so he gets the vote. Cash Man has already won over a similar trip and is another who acts with cut, but a penalty for that Hexham success might just prove too much to bear. Jemez went very close over c&d recently and there is every reason to expect another big effort, so he is very much respected. Oh Pickles will probably prove to be best of the remainder, but we will side with Stradbrook.
Cash Man (IRE) 9-4 (10-5) Mid-division, headway halfway, led approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf beating Mirage Dore (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Billslegacy (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Raced wide, always toward rear, lost touch from halfway, 17th of 18, well behind Alderseed (11-1) at Perth 2m nhf (5) gd in May.
Boris The Blade 12-1 (10-9) Held up, struggling from 5f out, 13th of 18, 26l behind Noble Alan (11-2) at Newcastle 2m mdn nhf (6) gf.
Castle Craigs (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Mid division, headway and in touch after 6th, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 7th of 16, well behind Or de Grugy (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in May.
Dad's Army (IRE) (12-0) 8th of 17, 24l behind Coronary Star (12-0) at Ballingarry 3m ire ptp frm in Jun.
Jemez (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Mistakes, tracked leaders, challenged when not fluent 3 out, ridden and stayed on to lead briefly flat, no extra, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Star Player (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Joseph 16-1 (11-7) Led, headed 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 18, 25l behind Silly Wupple (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf (4) gd in Oct.
Oh Pickles (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, outpaced 7th, plugged on from 3 out, 6th of 16, 27l behind Marleybow (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd.
Salveo (IRE) 125-1 (10-9) Mid-division when fell in race won by Oxford de Lagarde (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf, 11 ran.
Silver Feather (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden, some headway after 8th, 4th when fell 4 out in race won by The Painkiller (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov '06, 10 ran.
Stradbrook (IRE) 4-5fav (10-12) Chased leader, went 2nd after 2 out, not quicken, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Habanero (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Strong Command (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Always prominent, effort and every chance over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 14, 26l behind Striking Article (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f nhf (6) gs.
The Pious Prince (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Mid-division, struggling 6th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Star Player (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs, 16 ran.
Maylee (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 7th of 10, 27l behind Jack The Blaster (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 1f nhf (6) hvy in Mar '06.
