held up, blundered 7th, headway 9th, led 2 out, soon clear easily
held up in rear, struggling 10th, tailed off
behind 8th, mistake next, tailed off
held up in rear, some headway 10th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid division, headway 9th, hit 10th, soon weakened, tailed off
lost touch 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
in touch, led 9th, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
prominent to 9th, tailed off
mid-division, headway 9th, weakened approaching 3 out
led, jumped right and headed 3rd, chased leaders, weakened approaching last
in rear, mistake 3rd, struggling when mistake 7th, mistake 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, went second after 2 out, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, close up 3 out, pulled up after 2 out, dismounted
pulled hard, led 3rd, headed and weakened 9th, pulled up before next
always behind, mistake 9th, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway 9th, weakened after 3 out
prominent, challenged 9th, weakened after 2 out
Not a strong race by any means and top-weight DEW DROP INN can carry his big weight to victory; Petroglyph and Ere Alfie may be the best of the rest. The selection hasn't been with Jim Best for long but the trainer has a habit of improving horses who lack a bit of confidence. On the face of it his fourth to Heir To Be at the track in March looks fair form and with this drop in class in his favour he should run well. Petroglyph ran well at Fakenham last time out and rates a player on that form, however this is a big step up in trip and he has stamina to prove. Of more interest then may be the former point-to-pointer Billy Smith who is expected to improve for this step up in trip on his handicap bow. Bottom-weight Ere Alfie is on a platers mark and is open to more improvement as he steps up in trip, Sir Bumble ran well in selling grade last time and at least comes here in form, whilst Oscar Owen should come on for a recent spin around Hexham. Any market move for Braybrooke Lady or Acknowledgement would look interesting, however in a competitive heat it is Dew Drop Inn who is preferred.
Dew Drop Inn (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Took keen hold in rear, not fluent 10th, headway after 3 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 4th of 17, 6l behind Heir To Be (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Petroglyph 11-1 (11-6) Mid-division, progress to go 4th when slipped slightly on bend after 6th, hit 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, hung left after last, not quicken, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Allperksonice (10-9) at Fakenham 2m sll hcp hdl (5) gf in Oct.
Oscar Owen (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) In touch, chased leader 8th to before last, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 50l behind Zaffarella (11-6) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Watch Out 4-1fav (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, challenged going well 9th, led 3 out, idled flat, driven out, won at Worcester 3m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Oct beating Sir Bumble (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
Monzon (FR) 22-1 (10-11) Mid-division, lost place before 6th, hit next, tailed off, 8th of 14, 45l behind Love of Tara (10-4) at Exeter 2m 7f am nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Lazy But Lively (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Prominent, ridden approaching 10th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 17, 36l behind Fishguard Filly (11-2) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gd in Mar.
Sir Bumble (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, went 2nd after 7th, led 9th, headed 3 out, stayed on under pressure flat, 2nd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Watch Out (10-3) at Worcester 3m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Oct.
Billy Smith 16-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 5th, ridden and struggling next, soon lost touch, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Come West (10-12) at Towcester 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Dance Hall Diva 20-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, outpaced from 4 out, 6th of 18, 32l behind Waltham Abbey (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd in May.
Meet Me At Dawn 16-1 (10-11) Behind, pushed along and not keen after 7th, pulled up next, in a race won by Wasntme (11-10) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Oct, 10 ran.
Poppy Gregg 33-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, went left 1st, hampered 5th, weakened after next, 6th of 11, 32l behind Synonymy (10-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Flag Flier 50-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, never on terms, 5th of 12, 25l behind Persian Run (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Braybrooke Lady (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Led, jumped slowly 6th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 11, 17l behind Sylroy (9-13) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Acknowledgement 16-1 (10-6) Behind, jumped right 4th, lost touch after next, pulled up before 6th, in a race won by Sister Agnes (9-9) at Stratford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul '08, 13 ran.
Follow Your Heart (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) In touch, weakened after 4 out, 5th of 7, well behind Jacarado (10-3) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Tanktastic 100-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway when hit 4th, weakened 8th, 7th of 14, 32l behind Love of Tara (10-4) at Exeter 2m 7f am nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Ere Alfie (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Led, headed approaching 6th, soon lost place, outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on, no impression, 3rd of 6, 24l behind Carey's Road (11-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Auberge (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Prominent on outside, not fluent 3rd, outpaced after 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Pugnacity (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 5f cond nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Sep.
