SPHINX caught the eye on his debut and is taken to break his maiden tag on his second attempt at the expense of Saturn Island and Kentucky Boy. The selection was a fair handicapper on the level and was rated as high as 90 at his peak. He ran a decent third of seven on his debut at Kelso and with that experience now behind him he ought to go very close to winning. Saturn Island has the services of Tony McCoy who travels from the south for a handful of rides for trainer Howard Johnson. He was fancied to go close on his debut but ran slightly disappointing finishing in mid division. Improvement will be needed here but this looks the easier of the two maiden divisions so he has to be short listed. Kentucky Boy showed promise on his first two starts over hurdles this season but he was disappointing last time out at Wetherby. He is a little inconsistent in the way he runs his races so cannot be fully relied upon, so for the winner we return to Sphinx.
Classic Act 25-1 (11-3) In touch to 6th, soon beaten, 7th of 11, well behind Prince De Beauchene (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft.
Classic Cut 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division, some headway 4f out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 14l behind Pontop (11-4) at Wetherby 2m nhf (6) gf in May.
Flag Hill 150-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden 3 out, never dangerous, 13th of 16, well behind Palm Reader (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Gavroche Gaugain (FR) 100-1 (10-7) Held up, weakened approaching 3 out, 13th of 21, well behind Kangaroo Court (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Golden Globe (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Always behind, 7th of 12, 32l behind Hillview Boy (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) gf in Dec.
Kentucky Boy (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, blundered 6th, continued tailed off from 3f out, 10th of 14, well behind Falpiase (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Rowdy Rampage (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 7th of 9, 40l behind Meridian City (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) gd in Dec.
Saturn Island (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-2) Led after 2f, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 16l behind Lie Forrit (11-2) at Hexham 2m nhf (6) hvy in Nov.
Sphinx (FR) 18-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 2 out, stayed on strongly, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Ockey de Neulliac (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Eden Vixen (IRE) 250-1 (10-6) Mid-division, tailed off final 3f, 15th of 16, well behind Shut The Bar (10-0) at Catterick 2m mdn nhf (6) gs.
Ethel Briggs 100-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division and keen, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kangaroo Court (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec, 21 ran.
