tracked leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, one pace from next
held up last, not fluent 6th and 7th, headway next, led on bit approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, went left last, soon headed, no extra
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, hit 7th and 8th, soon ridden, kept on, close 3rd when hampered last, no extra
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden after 10th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, headway when hit 10th, soon ridden, steady progress from 2 out, stayed on lead soon after last, driven out
led, hit 5th, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened 2 out
Alderman Rose is selected ahead of Orion Express and Kalamazoo. A seven-pounds rise for his Huntingdon win seems fair enough to us and Alderman Rose can, accordingly, go well today. Orion Express keeps getting raised for good runs but, having run well here over a shorter trip last time, he can run well today from a mark that should not prove entirely prohibitive, while Kalamazoo returned for the season with a good Wincanton run and can prove best of the rest. This said, you always have to respect trainer Tony Martin and he runs The Crazy Parson. The selection, once again, though, is Alderman Rose.
Alderman Rose 5-1 (11-12) Set steady gallop, made all, ridden 3 out, clear next, ran on, won at Huntingdon 3m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in May beating Speed Winner (11-6) by 5l, 8 ran.
Orion Express 4-1 (11-8) Held up, hit 2nd, headway 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner last, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Marronnier (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Fisby 5-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway and in touch 3 out, soon ridden, weakened and eased approaching last, 8th of 13, 41l behind Willandrich (10-5) at Southwell 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jun.
Optimistic Alfie 16-1 (11-10) Led, headed 6th, reminders 8th, weakened 15th, tailed off when refused 2 out in race won by Satco's Deception (11-11) at N Abbot 3m 2f cnd hcp chs (5) gd in Aug, 11 ran.
Kalamazoo (IRE) 18-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden and chased leaders approaching 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 12, 8l behind New Time (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Oct.
The Crazy Parson (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Held up, in rear when fell at the 5th in race won by Sports Express (10-10) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Lockstone Lad (USA) 22-1 (10-10) Led, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 15, 27l behind Scots Dragoon (10-9) at Hereford 2m 4f cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gf in Oct.
