in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, weakened next
towards rear, mistake 1st, ridden and headway 2 out, one pace
mid-division, pulled up and dismounted soon after 3rd
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, soon held
tracked leaders, keen, led 6th, headed after 2 out, one pace
towards rear, short lived effort after 3 out
led, headed 6th, weakened 2 out
held up, tracking leaders, led after 2 out, edged left and kept on flat
in touch, ridden and lost place from 5th
held up, headway after 3 out, tracked winner approaching last, kept on
mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden 2 out, soon weakened
keen, always in rear
always in rear
With Ptibaby having been raised a stone for his course and distance win it may pay to look to the unexposed runners of whom Gofannon and Segal are well worth noting but our pick is HIGH CAROL. Andy Turnell's runner finished just three lengths behind Lepido at Wincanton and is 5lbs better off before his jockey's claim is taken into account. There'll be more to come from him once stepped up in trip but he has an extra furlong to tackle here which may prove to be sufficient. Lepido idled in front on that occasion and is fitted with cheekpieces as a result which could bring about a little improvement but Ptibaby will need to dig deep to get the better of the handicapper and the runner-up didn't do all that much for the form at Towcester. Gofannon sports cheekpieces for his handicap bow and he's shown up well enough to be of keen interest whilst Segal's yard is going well enough and he's well worth keeping an eye on. Gilded Youth is consistent and deserves a mention as does Karashar who would have won a couple of races already but for his jumping. He could be a factor here if freshened up by a break but High Carol has less to prove and is preferred.
Ptibaby (FR) 9-1 (10-11) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, ran on, won at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd beating Mr Newton (11-12) by 6l, 18 ran.
Lepido (ITY) 8-1 (11-2) Prominent, chased leaders 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, hard ridden flat, just held on, won at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf beating Weststern (9-11) by nk, 18 ran.
Karashar (IRE) 7-4fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 15, 13l behind Rock Me (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Gofannon (GER) 50-1 (10-7) Held up, weakened 3 out, 6th of 14, 17l behind Santo Stefano (11-1) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Ben Ami 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division, plugged on, 5th of 15, 19l behind Ajzal (11-1) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Boogie Dancer 5-2fav (10-0) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, ran on well, pushed out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gf beating Bet Noir (9-7) by 6l, 8 ran.
Gilded Youth 3-1fav (10-13) Held up towards rear, chased leaders from 3 out, kept on from last, 4th of 14, 9l behind Fujin Dancer (10-4) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
PonchaTrain (IRE) 6-1fav (11-9) Held up in touch, headway to track winner 4 out, every chance last, no extra, 2nd of 18, 2 1/2l behind Beshairt (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
Segal (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 13, 21l behind Pterodactyl (11-6) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
High Carol (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden and headway after 3 out, blundered 2 out, stayed on well from last, 4th of 18, 3l behind Lepido (11-2) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
Chilbury Hill (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Dancewiththedevil (10-3) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Miss Ladybird (USA) 25-1 (11-0) Soon tailed off, last of 10, well behind Call Me A Legend (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Magpie (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Held up, headway 5th, chased winner 3 out, weakening approaching 2 out, 6th of 9, well behind Bathwick Man (11-0) at Plumpton 2m nov clm hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Robbmaa (FR) 100-1 (10-9) Raced in 7th, mistake 4th, ridden and lost touch from next, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Tobago Bay (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd.
