in touch, pulled hard, led approaching 3rd, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden and weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out
prominent, ridden 4th, weakened 5th, soon behind
in touch, closer order 4th, with clear leader 2 out, kept on well to lead soon after last, driven out
held up, towards rear, headway 5th, weakened 2 out
towards rear, ridden 4th, weakening when hit 3 out
towards rear, headway 5th, ridden to chase leaders next and soon weakened
swerved badly left start, always tailed off
led, headed 3rd, led again 3 out, clear approaching 2 out, hit last and headed flat
Don't Ask Me is the pick over Earl Of Spectrum, with North Lodge and West Hill possibles for the frame at least. Don't Ask Me had the distinction of beating the higher rated Nippy Des Mottes at Exeter in October, but to be fair, the latter was returning from a near five-month break. Martin Pipe's charge has failed to last out on both starts subsequently, at Ludlow and Taunton, and it is hoped that this drop in trip will bring about a return to form in a race that will take little winning. Earl Of Spectrum ran well on his last start here but that was in selling company, while North Lodge hails from the Alan King stable that had a double on Monday. West Hill meets nothing of the calibre of L'Antartique who beat him out of sight at Haydock and so may have a small say in proceedings, but Don't Ask Me is our idea of the winner.
Earl Of Spectrum (GER) 3-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 4th, led after 3 out, headed after last, hung right, no extra, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Dancinginthestreet (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f sll hdl (G) gd.
Mac's Elan 12-1 (10-10) In touch, headway 4 out, every chance next, soon ridden and weakened, 7th of 12, 16l behind Celtic Legend (10-3) at Wetherby 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft.
Red Lion (FR) 10-1 (10-8) Mistakes and behind, lost touch 8th, headway under pressure 4 out, 4th and no impression when fell at the last in race won by Mighty Fine (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Nov '04, 6 ran.
Coralbrook 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division until 6th, soon under pressure and weakened next, 10th of 15, 29l behind Magot De Grugy (11-3) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Oct.
North Lodge (GER) 3-1jt-fav (11-0) Held up, headway 6th to track leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 5th of 9, 23l behind Brave Spirit (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hdl 0-90 (F) sft.
Waziri (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Always in rear, tailed off before 4 out, 12th of 14, well behind Papini (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gs in Jan.
My Retreat (USA) 33-1 (11-2) Held up, never near leaders, 9th of 18, 22l behind Desert Spa (11-12) at Worcester 2m sll hcp hdl (G) gd in Jun.
West Hill (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on, never dangerous, 5th of 10, 15l behind L'Antartique (10-9) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) sft.
Keepasharplookout (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, in rear, headway after 2nd, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by First Fought (10-7) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (E) gs, 13 ran.
City Palace 6-1 (10-3) Mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 7th of 15, 10l behind Young Tot (11-2) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gf in Oct.
Don't Ask Me (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Held up in mid-division, ridden and headway to lead 3 out, soon clear, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 16, 8l behind Meadow Hawk (9-9) at Taunton 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf.
