held up, ridden 7th, brief effort approaching 3 out, mistake and weakened
in touch, hit 4th, ridden along from 7th, weakened 2 out
led, headed after 4 out, one pace
held up, jumped slowly 6th, ridden and outpaced next, stayed on from 3 out to chase leading pair, not reach
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up next
tracked leader, led on bit after 4 out, clear 3 out, hit 2 out, not fluent last, pushed out
held up, mistake 8th, soon weakened and pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway 7th, mistake and weakened next
Foxspur ticks the right boxes and accordingly gets our vote but this may not prove to be cut and dried with most of his opponents of interest. Carys's Lad probably has enough weight but his two poor recent runs have come on soft ground and he may well fare better under today's conditions. Harbour Breeze has been given a break since disappointing and returns with his stable going well; he'd looked progressive prior to that. Nakoma is proving consistent, Carrickmines's last two runs have hinted at promise, Major Malarkey has been quietly progressive in qualifying and could step up now handicapping whilst Roussea, although a long way out of the weights, is actually quite well handicapped on his chase form. However, we'll come back to Foxspur who has improved with each outing and races from the same mark as when third in a Sandown handicap. That race appeared to be a fair contest at the time but the form hasn't really worked out just yet. It's still early days though and we'll stick to our guns and take Foxspur to take another step forwards.
Carys's Lad 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 5 out, soon weakened, 11th of 16, well behind Cryptic (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Foxspur (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-6) Soon led, headed 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Pamak D'airy (11-1) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) sft.
Harbour Breeze (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Prominent until pushed along 5th, soon lost placed, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Cryptic (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Nakoma (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) In touch, effort 3 out, chased winner flat, one pace, 2nd of 18, 2l behind Chinara (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Carrickmines (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 12, 16l behind Rapid Increase (11-9) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Major Malarkey (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, 6th of 16, 48l behind Forest Pennant (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Pipers Legend 9-1 (11-7) Prominent, hit 2nd, led after 6th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened quickly, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Theflyingscottie (9-13) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun '06, 16 ran.
Roussea (IRE) 13-2 (10-3) In touch to halfway, soon behind, 6th of 13, 44l behind Gentle John (11-5) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
