held up in touch, headway 4 out, lead last, headed flat, no extra
held up in touch, headway 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
tracked leader, lead 7th, headed and mistake 2 out, rallied to lead flat, kept on
held up in rear, fell 2nd
tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out
towards rear, headway when mistake 5th, soon tracking leaders, led 2 out to last, weakened flat
led, headed 7th, remained close-up, outpaced after 4 out
tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, outpaced next, rallied after last
Sands Rising gets the vote over Moor Spirit and Moment of Madness, with Little Flora worth a mention at least. Sands Rising has been improving with each race this term, and was only just denied by Kids Inheritance in desperate ground at Newcastle last time. In better conditions and on a fair mark still, Bob Johnson's nine-year-old can come good. The stable had a winner with Bob's Return last week, so can be supported at present. Moor Spirit was a most progressive sort in 2004, and definitely has the ability to go close here. The big question is whether he will be fit enough after a year off, and he is perhaps best watched at present. Moment of Madness caught the eye at Ayr when a slight mistake at the last ruined his chance of making a winning return. He is another to consider along with Little Flora who is at the right end of the handicap. All in all, this is a tight little affair to end proceedings, with only a narrow vote going to Sands Rising.
Reivers Moon 8-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, led approaching 5 out, headed after 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 7, 18l behind Brooklyn Breeze (11-8) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (B) gd in Apr.
Moment of Madness (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace from last, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Oliverjohn (10-2) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Moor Spirit 3-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd 13th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, ran on well, won at Musselburgh 3m nov chs (C) gf in Dec '04 beating Noblefir (11-6) by 9l, 4 ran.
Sands Rising 3-1fav (11-6) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out to track leaders, effort 2 out, chance last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Kids Inheritance (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) hvy in Dec.
The Miner 50-1 (10-8) Always behind, 16th of 23, well behind Topanberry (11-9) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Dec.
Apadi (USA) 16-1 (11-2) Held at rear, headway 4 out, soon ridden and one pace, 5th of 13, 42l behind Wages (11-2) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Little Flora 7-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, ridden and no extra approaching 2 out, 4th of 8, 25l behind Longdale (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Dec.
Grand Slam (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Towards rear, outpaced 4 out, hampered and left 4th 2 out, soon led, headed last, no extra, 5th of 10, 11l behind One Five Eight (11-7) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gs in Dec.
