prominent, jumped left 5th, ridden after 7th, weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, pulled hard, headway 5th, challenging 7th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on same pace last
mid-division in well grouped field, raced keenly, moved closer 6th, outpaced 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division, headway and reminders after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
led, headed approaching 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
with leaders, lost place briefly after 6th, rallied to go 2nd after 7th, led after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, no extra flat
in touch, lost place before 5th, well behind 7th, stayed on from 2 out, no impression
prominent, lost place approaching 5th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
hit 6th, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, jumped left and stayed on from 2 out, never nearer
mid-division in well grouped field, hit 4th, weakened approaching 7th
towards rear, not fluent 6th, ridden approaching 7th, never in contention
raced keenly, mid-division in well grouped field, tracking leaders 6th, ridden after next, not fluent 2 out, weakened approaching last
towards rear, reminders after 3rd, lost touch after 5th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
always prominent, led approaching 7th, headed after 3 out, soon ridden, led again before 2 out, stayed on well flat
in touch, not fluent 3rd, took 4th, mistake and weakened 3 out
held up mid-division, mistake 1st, struggling from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, lost place 3rd, driven in rear after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, no chance 3 out, eased after 2 out
This may not be as competitive as the numbers suggest as only a few of the 20 declared runners can be given serious consideration and having been good value for his win at Uttoxeter in the mud last week, Caroline Bailey's MARS ROCK is taken to defy the penalty for that success and gets the verdict ahead of Wardington Lad and Rocky Ryan. Jim Best's gelding is less exposed than most of these, comes into this in good heart having won well at Fakenham last week and he has solid claims despite a 10lb rise for that success. Lucy Wadham's Diarius has been well held in recent starts and is hard to recommend, while Line Artic is far from guaranteed to get this trip. Flaming Cheek ran better in a selling handicap at Fontwell when last seen in December and makes more appeal than Don McCain's Hernando Cortes, who has slipped to a fair mark but has been well held in recent starts. Alan King's Wardington Lad remains open to improvement after only five career starts and has to be considered on his handicap debut but Mars Rock was good value for his win last week and is taken to score again.
Mars Rock (FR) 11-1 (11-6) Travelled well in touch, went 2nd after 6th, led 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy beating Paradise Expected (9-9) by 8l, 16 ran.
Mr Newton (IRE) 20-1 (9-12) Held up early, headway 6th, 3rd approaching 6 out, 6th 4 out, soon no extra and weakened, 19th of 24, well behind Sonnyanjoe (10-6) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 0-130 gd in Apr '07.
Line Artic (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Held up, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, hung right approaching 2 out, one pace, 5th of 17, 11l behind Markila (11-11) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Rocky Ryan (IRE) 15-8fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, led approaching 3 out, challenged before last, kept on well under pressure, won at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jan beating Tarkesar (11-4) by 2l, 14 ran.
Kanonkop 66-1 (11-2) In touch, hit 7th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, 11th of 15, 40l behind Chaim (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Hereditary 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division, driven along from 6th, soon in rear, hampered 7th, 6th of 19, 41l behind Wychwoods Legend (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Red Rattle (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Always towards rear and pulled up 2 out in race won by Supreme Keano (10-11) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Tinchel (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division until 6th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Missoula (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Diarius (GER) 9-2jt-fav (10-10) Reluctant to line up, held up last, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer, 6th of 18, 22l behind Lady Pilot (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Satindra (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, ridden and stayed on same pace from next, never near leaders, 9th of 20, 21l behind Elite Land (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Hernando Cortes 22-1 (11-5) In touch, lost place approaching 3 out, 15th of 17, 47l behind Three Thieves (11-2) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
Cortesia (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Held up, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Victorias Groom (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Aya 11-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, under pressure and lost place before 6th, well behind when, 6th of 9, 38l behind Hoof It Harry (10-6) at Plumpton 2m 5f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May.
All Roads Lead (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Mid-division, hit 4th, headway approaching 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 14, 40l behind Bally Conn (11-6) at Taunton 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
How Are You Going (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Always in rear, behind from 7th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Supreme Keano (10-11) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Gallileo Figaro (USA) 11-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened 3 out, 6th of 15, 32l behind Festival King (10-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Flaming Cheek 66-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, mistake 6th, headway when hit 3 out, soon ridden, went 2nd after 2 out, kept on but always held by winner, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Swift Sailor (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f sll hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Wardington Lad 40-1 (11-1) Held up last, ridden 3 out, stayed on one pace, 4th of 11, 35l behind Pepite De Soleil (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Doubly Sharp (USA) 33-1 (11-6) Chased leaders until after 4th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Well Disguised (10-11) at Doncaster 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan, 18 ran.
Rhinestone Ruby 28-1 (10-11) Held up, mistake 3rd, not fluent 4th, ridden and effort 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 10, 32l behind Special Occasion (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
