mistake 11th, ridden 13th, no impression
tracked leaders, led 12th, ridden 3 out, headed and no extra approaching last
in rear, ridden 12th, lost touch from 14th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
led 2nd, headed next, ridden 13th, weakened 3 out
in touch, some headway 11th, driven 13th, ridden approaching 15th, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders until ridden after 15th, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, dismounted
towards rear, went prominent 11th, mistake next, headway again 15th, mistake 4 out, led approaching last, ridden out flat
held up towards rear, went prominent 6th, chased leader from 5 out, mistake and weakened 2 out
in rear, went prominent 7th, headway after 15th, weakened 2 out
in rear, mistake 4th, headway after 11th, mistake next, ridden 13th, lost touch from 5 out
This looks to be a good opportunity for Hombre to follow up his win at Sedgefield last month. The seven-year-old looked exposed after winning a heavy ground handicap chase at Wetherby a year ago, but is still on a lower mark than that success after scoring last time. He does need to prove that he stays three miles though, but with confidence and going in his favour, he is taken to go in again. Not that this will be a one horse race by any means, because there are others with claims, not least Cresswell Cherry. The mare loves soft ground, stays the trip well, and comes from a yard with a great record here. Freshened up after a six week break, she should be in the shake-up. Twice As Good has also run well on soft in the past. The gelding will also get three miles, and after a 4lb drop following his latest Leicester defeat, plus the useful Des Flavin claiming 5lbs off his back, he too has a chance. Course and distance winner Vincent Van Gogh is another who handles cut. His highest winning mark is just 92, though despite being 10lbs higher now, he went well off 100 at Taunton in November, so is one to consider, though he has plenty on his plate with the selection. Creative Time makes his seasonal reappearance after being off the track for 11 months. Placed in all his first three runs prior to that last Sandown outing, he has hardly any mileage on the clock, and so is open to plenty of improvement. His yard is in such good form that it would be no surprise to see a big run. Our Tommy also reappears for the first time since March of last year when he won at Warwick over 2m 4f. Up 9lbs as a result and with the lack of a recent run, he might just be found out by the soft groudn first time out.
