in touch, headway 3 out, effort next, one pace when switched right approaching last, no impression flat
raced keenly, tracked leaders on outside, headway 3 out, ridden to lead next, stayed on to go clear flat
mid-division, headway 3 out, soon chased leaders, switched inside approaching last, kept on same pace, no impression
in touch, lost place 4 out, soon weakened
disputed lead, ridden after 4 out, lost place next, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, every chance next, kept on same pace approaching last, ridden and no impresion with winner flat
mid-division, ridden and kept on same pace from 2 out, never near leaders
towards rear, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, riden to chase leaders before next, kept on same pace, never on terms
in touch on inside, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression approaching last
made most, ridden and headed 2 out, edged left under pressure approaching last, no extra flat
mid-division on outsidce, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
mid-division on inside, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, kept on same pace, never on terms
always towards rear
behind, under pressure when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
raced keenly, held up in rear, some headway into mid-division 3 out, weakened from next
Having been tried over 2m5f at Plumpton last time, it's interesting to see Skint dropped back to 2m here. This is a relatively easy course and there would have to be a worry that this inexperienced novice would have the pace to lay up with some of these on his handicap bow. Big Robert, a former Irish Lincolnshire winner, is interesting on his first start for Matt Sheppard but the in-form Babilu has shot up the weights since scoring at Taunton and Via Galilei, the pick of Gary Moore's trio, has more to do than when successful at Newbury in November. SIMPLY BLUE is entitled to improve on his sixth at Ascot and has a good record at Wincanton, a track similar to Kempton in lay-out. Simon Burrough's charge could represent a bit of value in an open contest.
Zanir (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden approaching last, weakened final 100 yards, 7th of 21, 10l behind Dee Ee Williams (11-12) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Ski Sunday 15-2 (10-4) Raced keenly in mid-division, hit 5th, weakened 3 out, 13th of 14, 32l behind Noble Alan (10-5) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Gr2 (1) gd in Apr '09.
Aather (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, effort on inside between last 2, no extra and lost place when not fluent last, one pace flat, 7th of 17, 13l behind L'Accordioniste (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Dec.
Tobago Bay 100-1 (10-0) Chased leaders until lost place before 5th, towards rear when fell 7th, in a race won by Dynaste (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f cond hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
William Hogarth 7-2 (11-12) Not travel well, tracked leader, mistake 1st, jumped right and lost place next, progress 5th, tracked leader 9th, ridden next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 5, 18l behind Betabob (10-0) at Ffos Las 2m nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Skint 9-4 (11-5) Chased leaders, led 2 out, soon ridden and strongly challenged, headed just after last, no extra flat, 2nd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Jetnova (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Simply Blue 50-1 (10-6) Tracked leader until 5th, remained in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened last, 6th of 13, 23l behind Aegean Dawn (9-9) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Top Mark 28-1 (11-7) Mid-division, driven and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Via Galilei (10-1) at Newbury 2m con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Souter Point (USA) 10-11fav (10-11) Chased leaders, tracked winner approaching 5th, every chance before 2 out where not fluent, found little, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Saltagioo (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Samsons Son 13-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead flat, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb '09 beating Eradicate (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Karky Schultz (GER) 9-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, chased winner after 4th, ridden and every chance 3 out, jumped left next, weakened before last, 6th of 7, 15l behind Spear Thistle (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Big Robert 4-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 5th after 3 out, no impression under pressure straight, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 14l behind Ballyhaunis (11-12) at Thurles 2m hdl in Nov.
Via Galilei (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, smooth headway to track leaders 4 out, went 2nd next, led approaching 2 out, not fluent last, ridden and kept on flat, won at Newbury 2m con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov beating Monetary Fund (10-11) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Alhaque (USA) 40-1 (10-0) In touch, jumped right 4th, lost touch 4 out, 12th of 13, 31l behind Aegean Dawn (9-9) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Johnny Mullen (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway 4th to chase leaders, one pace 2 out, 6th of 18, 16l behind Requin (10-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Babilu 9-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear and keen, headway approaching 5th, led approaching and attempted to run out 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Taunton 2m 1f mares hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Nov beating Posh Emily (10-11) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
