held up in mid-division, headway on bit approaching 6th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
led to after 3rd, chased leader until led 5th, headed 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, ridden 6th, kept on one pace from 2 out
chased leader, led after 3rd to 5th, soon ridden, weakened
held up in touch, headway and challenged 4th, led 6th, ridden after 3 out, headed briefly last, rallied and ran on gamely to lead flat, driven out
prominent, pushed along 5th, ridden and hit 6th, led briefly last, ran on not pace of winner, flat
held up in touch, ridden after 3rd, weakened 5th
prominent, ridden 6th, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden and not fluent 6th, weakened after, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, headway approaching 5th, chased leader approaching 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out
towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear, bumped 3rd, pulled up before 6th
held up in mid-division, ridden 6th, soon tailed off
always towards rear, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway after 6th, effort approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, ridden before 6th, weakened after
Leading Authority is selected in preference to Monsieur Villez, Supreme Royal and Rydal Park, while Farmer Brent can also go well in a race that appears to lack strength-in-depth. Farmer Brent shapes as if this trip will ideally suit and, as one that has experience of plenty of give underfoot, he has to be respected. As does Rydal Park who shaped as if there is more to come at Newbury 19 days ago. Supreme Royal also ran in that race and both should be capable of bettering the effort in this weaker company. Monsieur Villez has won three times over fences in France and is far-and-away the most experienced of this bunch. The betting market will tell us about the confidence behind Gerald Ham's representative. Even so, Leading Authority has already shown enough to suggest that he can play a strong part at this level and he only needs to find a modicum of improvement to enhance his profile with a win today.
Algenon (DEN) 9-2 (10-9) Mid-division, reminders 4th, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, no impression from next, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Reivers Moon (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gf in May '04.
Apatura Dik 40-1 (11-0) Always in rear, lost touch 7th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Christdalo (10-7) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Boytjie (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in 4th, weakened soon after 4 out, 5th of 6, 50l behind Darrias (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (D) gd in Oct '05.
Dad Says Heazle 4-1 (12-0) Fell 5 fell in race won by Fauntleroy (12-0) at Wadebridge 3m ptp gd in Dec, 14 ran.
Farmer Brent (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, chased leader 4 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 16, 37l behind Christdalo (10-7) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Leading Authority (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Evelith Forrest (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Melba Toast 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, driven approaching 5th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 38l behind Leading Contender (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Mister Moonax (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Prominent until lost place before halfway, struggling and behind after, 10th of 13, 24l behind Deep Reflection (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 2f nhf (6) sft in Nov.
Monsieur Villez (FR) (11-0) 3rd of 13, 7l behind Bouly Des Ramiers (9-13) at Auteuil 2m 1f chs in Nov.
Mountain Mayhem (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, chased winner 7th to 3 out, steadily weakened, 5th of 9, 20l behind Oscar Park (11-5) at Windsor 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gd in Nov '05.
Opus Cafe (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Always rear division, 11th of 15, 45l behind Sizing Europe (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Rydal Park (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up, in touch until weakened 4 out, 9th of 15, 45l behind Sir Jimmy Shand (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Schemer Fagan (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 13th of 16, well behind Barbers Shop (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f nh mdn hdl (3) gd in Dec.
Supreme Royal (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders until weakened 6th, 8th of 15, 44l behind Sir Jimmy Shand (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Thunder Child 100-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, ridden 5th, behind when mistake last, 14th of 18, well behind Thirty Five Black (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Wotashambles (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, weakened next, 11th of 14, well behind Idris (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Wreford Lake 12-1 (12-0) 2nd of 10, 1l behind Sweet Shooter (11-7) at Buckfastleigh 3m ptp gd in Mar.
Paddys Princess 25-1 (11-7) Last til pulled up at the 6th in race won by Mungo (12-0) at Bratton Down 3m ptp frm in Jun, 8 ran.
