chased leading trio, lost place 5th, ridden next, plugged on one pace from 3 out
led, headed after 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 6th, chased leaders and not fluent 3 out, chased winner approaching next where every chance, ridden when not much room on outside last, no extra soon after
in touch, headway 6th, chased leaders before 3 out, led before 2 out, slight advantage when edged right last, drew clear flat
in touch, lost place 6th, struggling next, tailed off 8th
chased leader until 5th, close up until weakened 3 out, tailed off
chasd leading pair, went 2nd 5th, led after 3 out, headed before next, weakened soon after, well held 3rd when blundered last
last pair, ridden and struggling after 5th, tailed off 8th, pulled up before 2 out
last pair, hit 3rd, some headway 8th, tailed off
The shortlist here consists of Qianshan Leader, Latin America and WHISTLEJACQUET, with the vote of confidence going to the last-named. Alan King's gelding was going to win at Taunton last time out but he ran out at the final flight. Another horse did similar on the card so something must have been amiss so we won't cast any aspersions over his attitude and instead take him to win with this trip looking ideal. Shoegazer won well last time out and is considered a player once again as he will relish this trip, Qianshan Leader has run in some good races and is considered after his break, whilst Latin America is a course winner and should relish the better underfoot conditions this afternoon. The rest of the runners look to be making up the numbers so ready preference is for Whistlejacquet.
Converti 11-1 (10-13) Prominent, outpaced by leading pair after 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Drumshambo (10-13) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Qianshan Leader (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Tracked leader, led 1st, headed 8th, remained prominent, weakened before 2 out, eased, 8th of 9, well behind Possol (10-12) at Ascot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Shoegazer (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, hampered 4th, steady headway before 4 out, chased leader after 3 out, challenged and mistake next, led as leader went badly right last, held on near finish, won at Kempton 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gd beating Back At The Ranch (11-0) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Whistlejacquet 4-9fav (11-6) Held up, headway to track leading pair 6th, led approaching 2 out, 2 lengths clear and going strongly when ran out and unseated rider last, in a race won by Kateal (10-7) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs, 8 ran.
Hazy Bay 100-1 (11-0) Held up in 5th, weakened 9th, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Misstree Dancer (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Island News 66-1 (10-7) Prominent, jumped right 1st, slow 4th, soon lost place, under pressure halfway, behind when pulled up 2out, in a race won by Sophies Trophy (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar, 11 ran.
Latin America (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leading trio, headway to 3rd before 2 out, stayed on flat to chase winner final 100 yards, kept on, always held, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Misstree Dancer (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Wild Bay 12-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, not always fluent, soon held up in 4th, closed after 3rd, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, 37l behind Drumshambo (10-13) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Annie The Doc 33-1 (10-2) Chased winner, hit 6th, dropped to 3rd soon after 3 out, no chance with front pair when hit 2 out, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Ramvaswani (10-11) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy.
