held up in touch, ridden, weakened 4 out, behind, pulled up 2 out
led, headed 4 out, kept on one pace
tracked leader 2nd, led 4 out, ridden out
in touch, ridden, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden, headway after 3 out, kept on same pace
keen, held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to chase winner next, no impression from approaching last
held up, mistake 1st, not fluent 5th, hit 4 out, soon ridden, weakened, pulled up before next
held up, headway to chase leaders 3 out, soon under pressure, weakened last
held up in rear, keen, headway 6th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
in touch, chased winner 3 out, weakened flat
always in rear
held up, lost place before 6th, behind when pulled up 3 out
close up, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
The shortlist contains Shirazi, Archduke Ferdinand and Beauchamp Gigi, but the vote goes to Welcome To Unos. Welcome To Unos remains competitively weighted, coming here on the back of an emphatic Catterick win in a conditional jockeys' event. Because he has no penalty to carry for that success, he is theoretically well-in now and can make a bold bid to follow up. Shirazi has been well placed by his handler over jumps and on the Flat and remains reasonably weighted, we feel, while the 2001 Northumberland Plate winner, Archduke Ferdinand, put up an improved effort over hurdles last time and, particularly if he settles better today, has to be considered from what we see as a reasonable rating. Beauchamp Gigi is clearly talented, but she she has been hard to keep sound, it would seem. However, with her stable in good form, she too could be well-weighted and is respected. And Heisse could also be interesting as he improved for the application of a tongue-tie last time, and is a little hard to fully assess. Finally, Penny Stall is one to watch for in the betting as she was said to have a breathing problem when last seen, which might well have been corrected now. Overall, though, we are happy to side with Welcome To Unos.
Common Girl (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Always behind, mistake 9th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Ostfanni (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov hdl (D) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Welcome To Unos 12-1 (11-2) In touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, ridden next, led flat, driven out, won at Catterick 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Nov beating Rare Coincidence (11-8) by 3l, 16 ran.
Courant d'Air (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden after 3 out, staying on in 2nd when fell at the last in race won by Lord Nellsson (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Archduke Ferdinand (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Pulled hard in rear, headway after 5th, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 18, 3 1/2l behind Ask The Gatherer (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gd in Nov.
Beauchamp Gigi (IRE) 5-4jt-fav (11-7) Held up, smooth headway approaching 8th, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Golden Odyssey (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (E) gd in Jan.
Sherkin Island (IRE) 5-2fav (10-7) Mid-division, headway 6th, driven and effort 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 11, 23l behind Mister Arjay (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Oct.
Penny Stall 7-4fav (10-12) Held up in touch, tracked clear leader 6th, challenged going well 2 out, every chance when not fluent last, no extra, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Zaffre (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f mrs mdn hdl (E) gf in Apr.
Heisse 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, carried left 3rd, ridden to chase leader 3 out, weakened 2 out, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Davy's Luck (10-5) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf in Oct.
