held up in rear, headway on inside after 5th, led and hit last, driven out
prominent, led, hit 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, switched right after last, no extra
held up in rear, struggling approaching 3 out, never in contention
with leader, not fluent 3rd, hit 5th, went wrong and pulled up on bend after 5th
mid-division, headway on inside after 5th, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last, soon hanging badly right
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place approaching 4th, behind approaching 3 out, still only ninth before last, ran on well flat, went 3rd post
held up, raced keenly, headway approaching 5th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, pushed along when not fluent 5th, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, soon outpaced, stayed on flat
always prominent, raced keenly, hampered bend after 5th, challenged 3 out, led after 2 out, driven and headed last, soon hung left, stayed on, no impression
held up towards rear, brought down on bend after 5th
held up in rear, raced keenly, jumped slowly 4th, ridden and struggling approaching 3 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders when blundered 2 out, not recover and soon beaten
led to 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway on outside approaching 5th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, raced keenly, ridden and not quicken before last, weakened flat
Nonrunner
The drop back to this trip will suit Mutual Friend as he returns to hurdles, however he still looks a tad high in the weights and instead it may pay to side with stablemate GASPARA. The selection looks sure to benefit from a recent start at Market Rasen where she filled a midfield finishing position behind Treaty Flyer. The handicapper has kindly dropped her by 3lbs for that run and she is now able to race off a mark of 132, just 2lbs higher than her last win in 2007. Weather Front is on a roll and with the stable in good form it would be no surprise to see him run well as he chases a hat-trick, although a 13lb higher mark will make life tough. Calatagan looks fairly treated now returned to hurdles, Fairyland has run well fresh in the past and she looks a player, whilst one cannot help but wonder whether the hill will really suit Cosmea, a daughter of Compton Place. Irish challenger McMurdo Sound still has improvement to come, whilst at a bigger price it would be no surprise to see Prince Picasso run his best race over hurdles now encountering a favoured fast surface. Not an easy puzzle to solve however it is the game mare Gaspara who edges the vote.
Mutual Friend (USA) 13-8fav (11-6) Held up in rear, headway 9th, mistake 3 out, weakened after 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Truckers Delight (11-6) at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (3) gf in Sep, 10 ran.
Izita Star 14-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, weakened from next, 13th of 17, 26l behind Treaty Flyer (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep.
Gaspara (FR) 18-1 (11-2) Chased leaders to 1st, mid-division, hampered 5th, soon weakened, 12th of 17, 26l behind Treaty Flyer (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep.
Weather Front 3-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, led approaching 2 out, kept on well, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep beating Peaceful Means (10-12) by 9l, 11 ran.
Calatagan (IRE) 18-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 9th, not fluent 12th, outpaced 5 out, rallied when blundered next, edged right and kept on to chase winner after last, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Tell Henry (10-5) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Fairyland (GER) 11-1 (10-5) Behind until kept on from 2 out, never nearer, 8th of 24, 9l behind Joe Jo Star (11-0) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in May.
Cosmea 11-2 (10-9) Held up in 6th, tracked leading pair after 3 out, weakened into 4th when blundered 2 out, no chance after, last of 7, 44l behind Hebridean (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Norman The Great 14-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, pushed along approaching 6th, weakened from 3f out, 9th of 10, well behind Toshi (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
McMurdo Sound (IRE) 15-8fav (10-11) Held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, led next, kept on well flat, won at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Sep beating Civil Servant (11-3) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Valento 33-1 (10-0) Held up in rear when fell 7th, in a race won by How's Business (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May, 10 ran.
Mohayer (IRE) 50-1 (10-6) In touch, hit 6th, weakened after 3 out, 15th of 21, 39l behind Culcabock (11-0) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl 4yo+ (2) gs in Apr.
Prince Picasso 10-1 (10-2) Towards rear for most, no impression from 3 out, 12th of 14, well behind Gay Sloane (10-8) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 gd in Jun.
Mango Catcher (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) In touch, lost place 5th, no real threat after, weakened last, 5th of 6, 11l behind Star of Germany (10-8) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jul.
Herons Well (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Tracking leaders when not much room 1st, soon towards rear, ridden after 5th, headway approaching 3 out, challenged and went left 2 out, led and not fluent last, ran on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gf in May '08 beating Chevy To The Levy (10-9) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Elite Land 7-4fav (10-5) Held up in rear, headway on inside after 3 out, hit next, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, no impression, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Hello Nod (10-10) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Nothing Is Forever (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Led, headed approaching 2 out, weakened quickly and pulled up, in a race won by Currahee (9-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
