held up towards rear, headway 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
close up, weakened approaching 3 out
held up mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, stayed on to lead close home
held up, weakened 3 out
prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up, ridden 3 out, one pace 2 out
led, headed 2 out, no extra from last
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, one pace
held up mid-division, headway and not fluent 3 out, led 2 out, caught post
prominent, ridden approaching last, soon weakened
SHOW WINNER is preferred to Sharp Rigging and Cool Operator in a competitive heat. The presence of McCoy in the saddle takes the eye for Andrew Balding's runner but may mean that Show Winner is sent off at a shorter price than his form merits. He failed to reproduce the form of his Kempton defeat of Micheal Flips in subsequent outings but is well treated on that piece of form and is entitled to have come on for his run at Ascot although he will need to jump better than he did on that occasion. Cool Operator has even more to prove following a disappointing campaign over fences but the yard is going well and he's another that looks well treated on the best of his form. Sharp Rigging hasn't stood much racing lately but he was a fair sort a couple of years back and has claims if able to perform to the same level whilst Balzaccio, Sunday City and First Avenue are others that could figure if putting their best foot forwards. Picaroon should appreciate being dropped in trip whilst the quirky Wizard Of Odds has been allotted a fair mark and should be competitive but preference is for Show Winner.
Sharp Rigging (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, headed last, driven and no extra flat, 3rd of 17, 9l behind Greenbelt (10-6) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Sunday City (JPN) 25-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, behind from 4 out, 8th of 9, well behind Charlie Crab (11-3) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Dec '08.
Cool Operator 33-1 (10-9) Chased leader, led 1st, disputed lead until headed 8th, hit 4 out, soon weakened, 13th of 15, well behind Valley Ride (9-10) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Balzaccio (FR) 17-2 (11-11) Held up mid-division, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 9l behind Zanir (11-5) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Lazy Darren 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders and keen, blundered 4th, soon lost place, weakened approaching 3 out, last of 7, 24l behind Kickahead (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Oct.
Show Winner 11-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, some headway 2 out, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 17l behind Zabeel Palace (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Zahra's Place 16-1 (11-9) Held up, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 11, 20l behind Zanir (11-5) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Nearby 50-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, hit 3rd and next, struggling in rear 3 out, 8th of 12, 19l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-4) at Newbury 2m Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-130) (4yo+) (3) sft in Nov.
Picaroon 7-2fav (11-6) Led, clear approaching 6th, headed approaching 2 out, lost 2nd last, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 5l behind River Logic (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
Wizard of Odds 10-3 (10-9) Unruly before start, held up towards rear, took keen hold, mistake 4th, headway next, challenged 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden and edged left approaching last, outpaced by winner flat, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Cheshire Prince (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
First Avenue 9-2 (11-1) Chased leader, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, one pace from last, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Nearby (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Crosby Jemma 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, switched right flat, ran on towards finish, 2nd of 13, hd behind Viable (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.