held up in rear, headway 5th, led next, ridden and hung left when mistake last, headed and no extra flat
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, 2nd when blundered next, soon ridden, weakened flat
towards rear, headway 4th, narrowly next, headed 6th, ridden 2 out, soon weakened
never better than mid-division
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, no impression on 1st 2
in touch, headway 6th, went 2nd after 2 out, ridden last, stayed on under pressure to lead flat
mistake 3rd, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, outpaced 2 out, no impression when blundered last
chased leaders, ridden and kept on same pace from 2 out, never on terms
raced keenly, led, mistake and headed 5th, chased leaders until ridden and weakened 2 out, behind when pulled up before last
tracked leader, lost place 5th, weakened 2 out
behind, mistake 4th, tailed off 2 out, pulled up before last
in touch, mistake and lost place 4th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
Dhaudeloup gets the call here ahead of Amber Go Go and Xaipete. Wind the clock back three years or more and Dhaudeloup would carry today's opposition and still win. Much as he has had his problems, he ran a fair race when second to Spree Vision is a claimer last time out, and a repeat of that effort gives him solid claims here. Xaipete is better known as a chaser these days but ran well back over hurdles last time and has form enough to be given a chance. That same comment applies to the four-year-old Culcabock, while a return to the level of form that saw Welsh Dream win at Musselburgh in May 2003 puts him in the picture, although he has clearly had his training problems. Allegedly Red has gone well here in the past and has a chance on official ratings, that last point applying to Border Star, who has dropped in the ratings since 2003, but a regression in form has been the reason for that. A repeat of Amber Go Go's second to Now Then Sid here over a longer trip last time certainly entitles her to supporters, but it is hard to escape the claims of Dhaudeloup and, if on song, he looks the one to beat.