held up in rear, under pressure over 2f out, soon beaten
behind, effort and hung left well over 1f out, soon beaten
chased leaders, headway under pressure approaching final furlong, stayed on strongly to lead close home
tracked leaders, hung left and not much room over 1f out, soon under pressure and beaten
held up in rear, switched right over 1f out, soon under pressure, kept on same pace final furlong
led, hard ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra
tracked leaders, under pressure and weakened approaching final furlong
chased leaders, hard driven to challenge from 2f out, stayed on well under pressure
Hucking Hero has a style of racing that means he needs plenty of luck in running, and a safer option might be METAL MADNESS ahead of Folio. Tony Culhane takes the ride on Mick Quinlan's Acclamation colt. Although no stable star, the four-year-old showed that he is in good form with a recent third over hurdles at Musselburgh and this return to the level could see him back in the winners¿ enclosure. He has won off a mark of 65 in the past and racing off 69 today he is unlikely to be far away. River Ardeche put in a much better display last time at Wolverhampton and looks handicapped to win, Folio has to deal with just a 2lb raise for a recent course win but is not badly treated on old form, whilst Rawdon continues to hit the frame without getting his head in front. Man Of Gwent needs watching in the betting as the yard have landed a touch with him before, Just Observing returns from a year and a half on the sidelines and might need the run, whilst Fandango Boy ran well when last seen in December but does still have stamina for this trip to prove. A tricky end for punters, but Metal Madness can win.
Rawdon (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Held up, smooth headway over 1f, ridden to challenge and every chance approaching final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 10, shd behind Il Grande Ardone (8-13) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
What's Up Doc (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Prominent, led 6f out, soon hung left, headed 2f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Alexander Huricane (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Folio (IRE) 13-2 (8-7) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, won at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec beating Saltagioo (9-5) by a hd, 7 ran.
Man of Gwent (UAE) 7-1 (9-4) Led after 1f, headed over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 9th of 11, 27l behind El Diego (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Hucking Hero (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Settled towards rear in touch, behind leaders when not clear run well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong to take 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Bavarica (8-2) at Lingfield 1m app hcp (5) pol.
Just Observing 12-1 (10-0) Chased leader, joined leader 4f out, led narrowly 3f out, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 6l behind Central Force (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Aug '07.
Metal Madness (IRE) 7-2 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f, weakened over 1f, 7th of 10, 23l behind Shaloo Diamond (9-0) at Beverley 1m 3yo hcp (5) sft in Sept.
Fandango Boy 12-1 (9-2) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, led 1f out, strongly ridden when headed close home, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Cherri Fosfate (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (6) pol in Dec.
River Ardeche 66-1 (9-0) Led 1f, chased leader, led over 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, not quicken close home, 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind El Diego (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
