held up, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on from last
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before next
held up mid-division, outpaced 3 out, kept on from next
held up in rear, headway halfway, ridden and hit 3 out, kept on from last
prominent, weakened approaching 6th
chased leaders, weakened after 3 out
prominent, one pace from 2 out
in touch, weakened approaching 2 out
with winner, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra from last
made most, ridden approaching 2 out, all out
held up, headway 5th, hit 3 out, stayed on towards finish, just held
held up, ridden and weakened after 3 out
A desperate seller gets proceedings underway but something has to win and the principals look to be College City, Macreater and Princess of Aeneas and the narrow vote is given to College City. The selection was a fair second behind Over To Joe last time out, that form looks rock solid in the context of this race and under similar conditions he looks the one to be on. Macreater rates the main danger on his latest second behind Nedwood Spirit but that form has since been let down and he is taken on with this in mind. Princess of Aeneas is game and consistent and is sure to run her race but she is beginning to look trip-less. Of the remainder Sea Cove would be a danger to all if fit after a 927 day absence while Bayside is dropping in grade and is another to note in the market but for the winner we return to College City who looks sure to run his race.
College City (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Held up behind, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and every chance last, held flat, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Over To Joe (10-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Step Perfect (USA) 125-1 (11-5) Held up, behind when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Tank Buster (10-8) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan, 17 ran.
Emperor's Monarch 10-3 (11-12) Led to 6th, outpaced from 3 out, 5th of 9, 17l behind Needwood Spirit (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Bayside 4-1fav (11-12) Prominent, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on, always held, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Karyon (9-12) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Needwood Spirit 14-1 (10-0) Behind and soon pushed along, lost touch 3 out, stayed on strongly approaching last, never nearer, 6th of 14, 31l behind Clock House (10-5) at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Graphex 100-1 (11-2) In touch, lost place 5th, 8th of 12, 39l behind Purple Moon (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Frankincense (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 9, 26l behind Needwood Spirit (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Princess of Aeneas (IRE) 11-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed last and soon weakened, 4th of 10, 19l behind Bright Sparky (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Jan.
Macreater 8-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, chased winner 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Needwood Spirit (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Southern Bazaar (USA) 14-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, weakened 3 out, 4th of 11, 28l behind Presenting Alf (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Sea Cove 16-1 (9-13) Towards rear, headway 7th, ridden after 9th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Stage By Stage (12-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf in Jul '04, 9 ran.
Fortune's Fool 20-1 (10-3) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out, 11th of 17, 47l behind Caulkleys Bank (11-12) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
