prominent, shaken up briefly when not fluent 7th, weakened 3 out
made most until 9th, soon weakened, tailed off
not fluent, soon in rear, lost touch approaching 7th, tailed off
prominent, lost place when not fluent 7th, weakened next, tailed off
keen early, held up, headway approaching 8th, led briefly approaching 3 out, soon ridden, not fluent 2 out, no extra flat
mid-division, headway after 6th, challenged next, led 9th, headed approaching 3 out, soon led again, driven out flat
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd or 7th, struggling next, tailed off
prominent, pushed along approaching 7th, weakened 3 out, took modest 3rd near finish
held up in rear, modest 6th 9th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Now stepped up markedly in trip we expect to see much more from Badanka, but preference here is just for EXPRESS LEADER, with Silver Token another to consider. The last-named is a five-year-old by Silver Patriarch and he has so far raced only on ground softer than today's good. That pedigree suggests that he won't be ideally suited by today's drier conditions, but he should certainly stay and is not ruled out. Badanka has plenty of stamina in her bloodlines and this three miles or so will be much more suitable than the two miles she raced over last time. She has yet to race on ground as fast as this, but that is not to say that she can't act on it. Tony McCoy has been booked for Whenever, who stays further than this and acts on a sound or fast surface, and carries a penalty for winning a similar race at Plumpton in October. He could go well. However, we prefer the claims of Express Leader. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has bags of stamina in the pedigree himself, and so should be suited by this step up in distance. He acts on good ground and also at this track, and he is just given the vote.
Whenever 7-2 (11-8) With winner, ridden and every chance from 2 out, no extra near finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Agente Romano (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Big Bertie (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Took keen hold early, held up in last pair, jumped slowly and dropped to rear 5th, brief rally when hit 9th and struggling after, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Misstree Dancer (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) hvy, 7 ran.
Coombsway (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Towards rear, pushed along before 2nd, ridden approaching next, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Crannaghmore Boy (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 13 ran.
Double Tangle 8-1 (12-0) Prom when blun & ur 13, in a race won by Sky Hole (11-7) at Brafield-on-the-green 3m ptp gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Express Leader 5-2 (11-5) Not always fluent, chased leaders, mistake 2nd, 3rd and pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 13, 32l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-11) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Penylan Star (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up behind, headway after 4 out, chased leading pair approaching 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 7, 26l behind Kennel Hill (11-1) at Ludlow 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Red Twist 11-4 (11-7) Ap; led 15; ro wl, won at Wadebridge 3m ptp in Mar beating Acting Tougher (11-0) by 1l, 8 ran.
Tropical Secret 100-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, under pressure 4th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Organisateur (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Mar, 15 ran.
A Fistful Of Euros 100-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, not always fluent, mistake 2nd, 8th 3 out, never in contention, 6th of 12, 29l behind Queen Poline (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Badanka (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) In touch, pushed along from 4th, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Miss Nightshade (10-9) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Silver Token 11-2 (10-13) Mid-division, headway when not fluent 5th, led briefly before next, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 14, 14l behind Talenti (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar.
