tracked leaders, narrow lead approaching 4 out, soon headed, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leader, led 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th to chase leaders, led approaching 2 out, driven out, held on towards finish (no time taken)
held up in rear, weakened from 4 out, soon tailed off
held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
led, headed approaching 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
held up in touch, headway to track leaders approaching 5th, challenged 3 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on, held towards finish
THE SNAIL is likely to be a short price to see off Pagano and Michigan Assassin. Evan Williams' charge has been hammered by the handicapper for a very successful run of victories but with doubts about the others, we are prepared to believe that he can see off the handicapper's assessments today. Pagano was a smart flat horse on his day. He is not straight forward and all hopes rely upon the headgear working the oracle. Michigan Assassin represents a yard that are less fashionable than others. The ground represents no issue and he should give a good account. Mous Of Men was a promising sort for Henrietta Knight. He has clearly had training troubles though has had two runs recently for his new handler. National Trust was easy to back on reappearance and ran accordingly. Finzi Contini was entitled to need his first run for Tim Vaughan and should be capable of better today. The Snail seems to have turned over a new leaf and remains worth following until the handicapper gets the better of the unequal struggle.
Mous Of Men (FR) 20-1 (10-8) Held up, headway on outer approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 4th of 14, 16l behind Honest John (10-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
The Snail 3-1fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, mistake 5 out, every chance 2 out, led before last, stayed on well, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jan beating Sonara (10-1) by 4l, 11 ran.
National Trust 12-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, well behind Le Beau Bai (10-13) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Finzi Contini (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, weakened quickly after 4 out, 11th of 12, well behind Blazing Buck (10-4) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Pagano (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 5th, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 12, 12l behind Good For Blue (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Michigan Assassin (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Made all, ridden and joined 2 out, rider lost both irons soon after, hit last, tried and hung left flat, held on gamely, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf beating Coeur Brule (10-9) by 1l, 11 ran.
Federstar (GER) 7-2 (11-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 4th, outpaced after 3 out, ran on flat, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Tom O'tara (10-11) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Feb.
