prominent, lost place approaching 5th, kept on from last
very slowly away, soon well behind, soon headway to join pack, never dangerous
tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on
led, headed 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, mistake 1st, headway 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, weakened 3 out
in touch, pushed along after 5th, lost place approaching 3 out
held up in mid-division on inner, headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, every chance approaching 2 out, one pace
held up in mid-division, headway approaching, one pace
held up towards rear, never dangerous
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression
held up in touch, headway 5th, led approaching last, kept on
held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
towards rear, pushed along 5th, effort approaching 2 out, no impression
GROUP LEADER is the call in this widely subscribed affair with Oxford City and Wallace Monument others to make the shortlist. John Jenkins' charge has ran to a respectable level of form in two starts thus far and gave the impression that a recent run at Doncaster would not have been lost upon him. Oxford City could be an interesting recruit from the flat. He faced a tough task against Quantativeeasing but has ran well on two subsequent appearances on the level. From an unfashionable yard, the market could well ignore him. Nicky Henderson had a number of entries earlier in the week though he relies upon Wallace Monument. He was a rare flop on the day at Southwell for the Seven Barrows team though had won on the turf at Ludlow on his previous start. Bouncing Bean would be interesting if the money speaks in the ring. The trainer isn't noted for bumper winners and is a man who can often glean improvement from horses for racing them. Alan King can be forgiven for his thoughts being elsewhere though as a mare, Shilpa is in receipt of plenty of allowances. Onemoreandstay got 1m4f on the flat and is a rare Hugh Collingridge runner under this code. Call It On probably did not act on the soft surface at Doncaster on his hurdling debut. Rated in the 80's on the flat, he often raced prominently in that discipline. A race where the future must be borne in mind though for today, Group Leader is our selection.
Iceman George 25-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden and lost place over 3f out, last of 13, well behind Bivouac (9-0) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Feb (flat).
Just An Ace (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, jumped right throughout, under pressure when hampered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Kerada (11-4) at Fakenham 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Max Milano (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, hit 7th, blundered 3 out, soon outpaced, never on terms, 6th of 7, 15l behind Finian's Rainbow (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Mezuzah 50-1 (10-12) Held up, always towards rear, tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind Black Apache (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Oxford City (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always in last trio, mistake 4th, lost touch 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Quantitativeeasing (11-5) at Newbury 2m hdl (3) hvy in Dec.
Wallace Monument 7-2 (11-9) Led, headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 12l behind Brackloon High (11-9) at Southwell 2m NH flat (4) std in Jan.
Bouncing Bean 18-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway 5f out, outpaced final 3f, 5th of 8, 15l behind Full Of Spirit (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m N H flat (6) sft in Dec.
Call It On (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along and headway approaching 3 out, no impression, 8th of 14, 17l behind Gilded Age (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Clerk's Choice (IRE) 4-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, weakened over 2f out, last of 3, 42l behind Highland Glen (9-2) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Oct (flat).
Group Leader (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, pushed along and outpaced approaching 3 out in rear, headway approaching last, stayed on well to take 3rd, nearest at finish, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Gilded Age (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Jiminor Mack 100-1 (10-8) Took keen hold, led until after 1st, led after 3rd until slowed up markedly 4th, weakened after 5th, 9th of 13, 34l behind Haarth Sovereign (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gs.
Onemoreandstay 3-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, smooth headway on inside over 2f out, every chance 1f out, found no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Dan Buoy (8-11) at Southwell 1m 4f app hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) fbs in Jan (flat).
Shilpa (IRE) 22-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 15, 24l behind Fahrisee (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f NH mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Strike Three (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway when hampered 7th, 7 lenghts down in 4th when fell last, in a race won by Queen Poline (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
Viking Awake (IRE) 40-1 (8-7) In rear, never a factor, 10th of 12, 10l behind Saddlers Bend (8-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol (flat).
Moonlight Rose 50-1 (10-9) Raced keen in rear, ridden and weakened 4f out, 5th of 7, 44l behind Chicklemix (10-4) at Fakenham 2m mrs N H flat (4) gs in Feb.
