raced keen, tracked winner, blundered 4th, lost place before next, no impression from 2 out
raced keen, held up, always behind
held up, outpaced 2 out, ridden and stayed on from last, never near leaders
in touch, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and one pace approaching last
made all, driven and stayed on well flat, unchallenged
mid-divison, driven and outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, rallied from last, no impression
held up behind, headway and in touch 5th, outpaced when hit 2 out, soon weakened
held up, some late headway afer 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no impression
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 5th, ridden 2 out, kept on, no impression
Lahib The Fifth, Guerilla and Im Spartacus look the three to concentrate on this competitive handicap and the vote is given to Lahib The Fifth. The selection was a fair fourth behind Royal Katidoki when last seen. He returns to the fray on a handy mark and as he goes well fresh he looks the one to be on. Guerilla rates the main danger as he won well last time out when beating Basic Facts. However he is far from consistent and he looks vulnerable under his penalty. Im Spartacus was ninth behind Kings Quay in a better race last time and will be suited by this faster surface so he should be watched in the market. Harcas won a maiden hurdle in good style last time out when beating Fit To Fly but he looks on a high enough mark for what he has actually achieved. Of the remainder, Supply And Fix is game and consistent and is sure to run his race but Lahib The Fifth is our idea of the winner.
Lord Baskerville 25-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 12th of 17, 19l behind Kings Quay (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Jul.
Present Oriented (USA) 13-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, prominent, weakened 3 out, blundered 2 out, 6th of 10, 40l behind Armariver (11-3) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Oct.
Im Spartacus 4-1fav (10-0) Towards rear, weakened 3 out, 9th of 17, 8l behind Kings Quay (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Jul.
Lahib The Fifth (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) In touch, effort approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 22l behind Royal Katidoki (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Oct.
Harcas (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden last, stayed on under pressure, won at Perth 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Jul beating Fit To Fly (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Supply And Fix (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Led, slight mistake 2nd, ridden and headed before 2 out, no extra and kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 19l behind Mingus Madness (11-1) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-102 gs.
Guerilla (AUS) 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, effort 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, headway to lead 2 out, driven out, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf beating Basic Fact (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
So Cloudy 6-1 (11-3) Pulled hard in rear, saddle slipped and pulled up at the 4th in race won by Commemoration Day (10-3) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (3) gf in Apr, 10 ran.
Master Nimbus 11-4jt-fav (11-9) behind Beggars Cap (11-3) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun, 10 ran.
Salinas (GER) 6-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Lord Lington (11-9) at N Abbot 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Balakar (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, stayed on from before 2 out, 6th of 25, 5l behind Katcharto Lady (10-8) at Punchestown 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-109 gf in May.