tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, disputing lead 2 out, led last, kept on well
held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up behind, mistake 3rd, not fluent 4th, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, went 2nd 4 out, one pace from 3 out
held up towards rear and keen, weakened approaching 3 out
led, headed approaching 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in touch and keen, led approaching 5th, under pressure 3 out, joined 2 out, headed last, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace 2 out
held up towards rear, weakened after 4 out
held up mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
POSSOL appears hard to get away from in this affair and he should account for Nodforms Violet and Maska Pony. Henry Daly has elected to keep Possol over hurdles for the foreseeable future in order to protect his handicap mark over chase fences. Although tiring a little at Ascot in the closing stages, that was nevertheless an emphatic success and he should be capable of picking up a few more races of this nature this season. Nodforms Violet represents a go-ahead yard. The gelding has some smart bumper form behind the likes of Lidar and Bellvano so connections have been unafraid to take on the bigger outfits in the past. George Moore had a welcome winner last weekend and he relies upon Maska Pony today. He shaped at Southwell as if this step up in trip would be very much to his advantage. Tribe did not win too many on the flat though he stayed two miles at that discipline without too much trouble. Truckers Hall might need a little more give underfoot in order to be at his best. Steve Gollings has his string in good order so Wexford bumper winner, Woodmore, is worth more than a cursory glance in the market. A race that will throw up future winners though it would be disappointing were Possol not able to defy a penalty all around.
Possol (FR) 11-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Ascot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Nov beating Arkose (11-4) by 9l, 9 ran.
Tribe 16-1 (10-13) Held up, smooth headway approaching 3 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, forged clear from last, won at Wetherby 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May beating Will If I Want (11-5) by 12l, 8 ran.
Maska Pony (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden, no impression after 3 out, stayed on after next, went 3rd before last, kept on flat, nearest finish, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Persian Gates (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Nodforms Violet (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Made all, ridden and stayed on well final 2f, unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m NH flat (4) gd in Oct beating Natural Spring (10-7) by 4l, 13 ran.
Simply Strong (IRE) 7-4 (12-0) Alw pr, cl 5th 4out, disp 2out, ev ch last, ld late, won at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m ire ptp fm in Oct beating Doctor Sheil (12-0) by nk, 10 ran.
Sleep Talk (USA) 66-1 (10-12) 10th of 15, 40l behind Robert The Brave (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun '08.
Truckers Hall (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 3rd, every chance before 3 out, hit last, one pace, 4th of 9, 5l behind Abbevillian (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Nov.
Woodmore (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Prominent, weakened 2f out, 6th of 14, 16l behind Double Expresso (11-7) at Southwell 2m NH flat (5) gd.
Give A Lot 25-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, weakened 3 out, mistake last, 6th of 11, 17l behind Loom (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) hvy in Nov.
True Illusion 22-1 (10-5) Led to 6th, weakened after 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by City Theatre (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
