led, headed 2nd, remained with leader, led again 4 out, ridden, headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
led 2nd, ridden, headed 4 out, soon weakened
always in rear, mistake 3rd
chased leaders, ridden, weakened 3 out
keen, chased leaders, ridden, weakened 3 out
always in rear, behind from 6th
held up, ridden 5th, outpaced 4 out, ridden, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
held up mid-division, ridden, weakened 4 out
always towards rear, fell 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden 6th, led approaching 3 out, clear next, ridden out
The shortlist here consists of Thedublinpublican, Wally Wonder, Gaelic Roulette and Grand Bay, with the selection being Wally Wonder. Now rated just three pounds above his Market Rasen winning mark of August 2005, Wally Wonder looks competitive on that basis in what seems to be a fairly run-of-the-mill race. Also, the blinkers are back on today after a couple of runs without them, which is seen as a plus point. Judged on his latest run, Thedublinpublican is improving, and that race has already produced a winner, while Gaelic Roulette is another that is open to improvement based on just two runs, one of them a winning effort. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Grand Bay could be interesting as this French Flat middle-distance winner looks well weighted based on his hurdling debut, although two runs since have been modest. Turning to the others and Goldflo, a Limerick winner from a 10-pounds lower mark on heavy in Ireland, is possibly open to improvement, but would need to find it, while much as Uncle John is eight pounds above his Market Rasen winning mark, he ran well from his revised rating last time, and cannot be ruled out. Overall, though, we will stick with Wally Wonder.
Thedublinpublican (IRE) 40-1 (10-3) Prominent, led 4th, headed 3 out, not much room approaching last, one pace, 4th of 15, 4l behind Down's Folly (10-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gf in Dec.
Wally Wonder (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Chased leader, weakened 4 out, 10th of 16, 41l behind Sunday City (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jan.
Gaelic Roulette (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Behind, hit 2nd, headway 6th, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Master Nimbus (9-11) at Bangor 2m 1f cnd nov hcp hdl (E) gs in Aug.
Grand Bay (USA) 12-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 4th, chased leader 5th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 14, 21l behind Siberian Highness (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Boing Boing (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Made most, mistake 2nd, weakened and headed soon after 3 out, 5th of 10, 15l behind Alva Glen (11-1) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf in May.
Late Claim (USA) 66-1 (10-3) Chased leaders until 6th, soon behind and pulled up 4 out in race won by Down's Folly (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan, 13 ran.
Gold Flo (IRE) 7-2fav (10-11) Mid division, 7th and ridden approaching 6 out, soon 3rd, dropped to 8th and no impression from well before straight, 10th of 13, more than 12l behind Heartansoul (10-6) at Cork 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl hvy in Jan.
Dorneys Well (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 5th, mistake when chasing leader 6th, weakened soon after and pulled up 2 out in race won by Penric (11-3) at Hereford 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (F) gf in Oct, 14 ran.
Uncle John 11-1 (9-13) Towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden, one pace from next, 4th of 16, 12l behind Sunday City (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jan.
Coralbrook 8-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden 4th, weakened 5th, soon behind, 9th of 10, 38l behind North Lodge (11-1) at Hereford 2m 1f amt hcp hdl (F) gd in Nov.
Open Range (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, blundered 2 out, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Squantum (10-8) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan.
Alpha Gamble (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Held up and always towards rear, 10th of 15, 31l behind Silkwood Top (10-9) at Windsor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Dec.
Peerless Motion (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) pulled up in race won by Royal Jake (12-7) at Siddington 3m ptp gd in Mar, 7 ran.
Siyaran (IRE) 66-1 (10-3) Soon behind, reminder 3rd, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind The Luder (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
Thievery 50-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 32l behind Vingis Park (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
Cougar (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Hilarious (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gd in Dec, 16 ran.