raced wide chased leaders, led 3f out, ridden out
held up, soon pushed along in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on, not reached winner
chased leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, ridden and short of room 3f out, stayed on final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 4f out, soon tailed off
held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, stayed on, never dangerous
led 6f
mid-division, effort over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
held up in rear, headway and not much room 3f out, never dangerous
keen, held up, ridden and weakened over 2f out
held up in rear, headway 4f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on
held up, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
In the finale, Woolly Bully gets the nod ahead of Double Spectre and Looker. Woolly Bully won well at Pontefract last time and, if carrying that improvement into this longer trip, rates as a danger to all. Fabrian is on a competitive mark and has shown that he can go on this type of going. Trouble Mountain got back to winning ways last time but now has a three-pounds rise to defy. Exit Smiling wasn't far behind him that day on his first try at today's trip. Snark is open to improvement at this trip, while Gala Sunday has proven that he can win from around today's mark and wins in his turn. Dower House caught the eye to a degree at Nottingham last time and, if returning to his spring 2005 form, would hold very good claims. The Composer holds claims based on his May winning form at Haydock, so cannot be ruled out, while any money for Prince Of Love could be interesting. Raised two pounds for his Sandown win over a mile, Double Spectre is another to seriously consider stepped up in trip today. Finally, Libre is another to be well-weighted based on his best 2005 form and Looker improved on previous form to score at Salisbury last time and is another to have a look at. Overall, though, the vote goes to Woolly Bully.
Trouble Mountain (USA) 16-1 (9-4) Towards rear, driven along over 4f out, headway over 2f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, won at Redcar 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Sept beating Sforzando (9-1) by 1l, 16 ran.
Exit Smiling 20-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, led over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace, 4th of 16, 2l behind Trouble Mountain (9-4) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Sept.
Snark (IRE) 15-2 (9-1) Chased leader, ridden over 2f out, stayed on one pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Our Teddy (10-1) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.
Double Spectre (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, led 2f out, ran on strongly final furlong, driven out, won at Sandown 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sept beating Mythical Charm (8-10) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Materialize (USA) 10-1 (8-12) Prominent. ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 12, 20l behind My Arch (9-11) at Beverley 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gs in Aug.
Libre 4-1 (10-0) Held up, ridden over 2f out, switched right and headway over 1f out, kept on, never reached leaders, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Barons Spy (9-3) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-75 (5) frm in Jul.
Looker 6-1 (8-0) Led until 8f out, tracked leaders, led 3f out, stayed on gamely when hard pressed throughout final furlong, won at Salisbury 1m 2f clm (5) gs in Sept beating South O'The Border (9-10) by a shd, 13 ran.
Woolly Bully 15-8 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, led final furlong, ran on well, won at Pontefract 1m 3yo mdn (5) gs beating Avoriaz (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
