held up towards rear, headway 6th, tracked leaders 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, soon faded
led, headed after 2nd, led again approaching 5th, reminders next, weakening when headed 2 out
prominent, weakened after 3 out
in touch, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out
held up, pulled up and dismounted after 4th
held up, reminders 3rd, headway after 4th, soon under pressure, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, led after 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 5th, weakened quickly, tailed off
towards rear, ridden and outpaced after 5 out, some progress approaching 3 out to chase leading pair, one pace from 2 out
held up, awkward 2nd, reminders 4th, detached when pulled up after 5th
held up mid-division, headway after 6th, tracked leader 3 out, led approaching last, pushed clear, comfortably
ALRAFID is the obvious one here and has solid claims of completing a hat-trick; Cruise Director and Gan Eagla could give him most to do. Gary Moore has a decent strike rate in this grade and at this track whilst his charge has won his last two starts in sellers well enough and has been given every chance at the weights by his handler. Rain would be an issue as he's at his best on fast ground but everything else is in place for a big run. Cruise Director has been in action on the level since winning a Market Rasen handicap in impressive fashion on Boxing Day; he is a live danger if able to produce a similar effort and rain won't worry him. Gan Eagla has been off the track for a while but is a winner of four hurdle races from just nineteen starts and could go close if returning to action at the top of his game. Mad Jack Duncan represents top connections but has yet to convince and this drop in grade may not be the answer but Sarrococca may be worth a cursory glance with the yard going well despite some modest efforts. We'll stick with the in-form horse though which means that our vote goes the way of Alrafid.
Cruise Director 10-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, smooth headway 3 out, led next, clear last, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec beating Another Charmer (11-1) by 6l, 12 ran.
Mad Jack Duncan (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Held up, pulled hard, not fluent 4th, headway 6th, not fluent next, soon ridden, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Max Bygraves (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd, 12 ran.
Gan Eagla (IRE) 4-1fav (11-12) Led, hit 13th, headed approaching 4 out, weakened, 4th of 8, 28l behind Herecomestanley (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov '07.
Hawk's Landing (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) In touch, not fluent 2nd, pushed along after 10th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 14th of 17, well behind Heir To Be (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Alrafid (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Took keen hold early, soon settled in last trio, headway going well approaching 3 out, challenged next, led before last, pushed out flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f sell hdl (5) gf beating Black Beauty (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Fortification (USA) 9-2 (10-9) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Boogie Dancer (10-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gf.
Manolo (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Mistake 1st, pushed along briefly, in rear until headway 7th, soon ridden, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Badly Bruised (10-13) at Towcester 2m 5f clm hdl (5) gd, 14 ran.
Decree Nisi 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along on outside before 3 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 15, 18l behind Grave Doubts (11-7) at Towcester 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Sarrococca (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, led briefly after 4 out, mistake 3 out and weakened, 5th of 16, 16l behind Top Ram (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gd.
Miss Phoebe (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, brought down 3 out, in a race won by Ton-Chee (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Mar, 13 ran.
