led until after 1st, remained prominent, weakened 4th
mid-division, progress 4th, mistake next, soon struggling
always prominent, led 2 out, strongly challenged approaching last, just held on
in touch, pushed along approaching 4th, weakened before 3 out
held up, chased leaders 3 out, ridden to challenge last, stayed on flat
held up, headway after 2 out, hampered before last, kept on under pressure flat, just failed
started slow, always behind
led after 1st, headed 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden and effort approaching last, weakened flat
held up, mistake 4th, behind when pulled up before last
held up, headway before 2f out, ridden and every chance after last, kept on flat
Cadeaux Rouge is the pick in the opener ahead of Wardash, Countback and Tiger Talk. This should not take too much winning, and in the belief that it is worth taking on the disappointing Wardash again, we do so with Cadeaux Rouge who is still a maiden under both codes. However a reproduction of his second in claiming company at Perth in August when fitted with a tongue-tie puts him in with a leading chance in this poor affair. Wardash won a couple of times in the summer, but he has failed miserably of late and cannot be backed with confidence. Maybe the tight circuit will help if he can get into the lead early, but do not count on it. Tiger Talk beat Countback here in March and is only slightly worse off at the weights, but that was also a dreadful contest and is nothing to get worked up about. All in all, Cadeaux Rouge is as good a selection as any in a race of this nature.
Protocol (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, struggled from 4th, 11th of 17, 47l behind Sheer Guts (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gd.
Tiger Talk 8-1 (11-3) Towards rear, headway halfway and in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 15, 39l behind In Good Faith (9-11) at Sedgefield 2m 5f sll hcp hdl (G) gs in May.
Wardash (GER) 8-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden after 6th, beaten when hampered 2 out, 4th of 15, 17l behind Harry Potter (11-3) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (G) gf.
Countback (FR) 9-2 (10-5) Led to 2nd, prominent, mistake 9th, kept on to go 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Penny's Crown (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f cnd sll hdl (G) gs.
Chariot (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden and stayed on one pace throughout, no extra from last, 5th of 12, 27l behind Sheer Guts (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf in Sept.
Cadeaux Rouge (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Towards rear, outpaced 4 out, rallied approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 5th of 7, 24l behind Ostfanni (11-10) at Hexham 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (E) gf in Sept.
Bally Hall (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders until weakened 3 out, 11th of 13, 25l behind Honan (10-10) at Plumpton 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gf in Sept.
Cicatrice 33-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, behind when ridden 5th, jinked badly left and refused 2 out in race won by Darrias (11-3) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf in May, 6 ran.
Hidden Smile (USA) 8-1 (10-9) Led, ridden and headed 5th, soon weakened, 7th of 8, well behind Distant Romance (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f cnd sll hcp hdl (G) gd.
Past Heritage 11-2 (10-3) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Island Warrior (10-0) at Exeter 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (G) frm, 12 ran.
Nutley Queen (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Always behind, 10th of 14, well behind Margarets Wish (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gd in Jul.
