in touch, led after 2nd, hit 7th, ridden clear 3 out, unchallenged
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out
mid-division, behind 6th, pulled up after 3 out
led, headed 2nd, lost place 6th, headway to chase leader 3 out, mistake 2 out, weakening when hit last
mid-division and keen, ridden 4 out, mistake and weakened 3 out
towards rear, headway 7th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, ridden 3 out, one pace
mid-division, keen, tracked winner from 4th, jumped right 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
in rear, fell 4 out
in rear, ridden and behind from 5th
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, ridden to chase leaders and weakened quickly 3 out
led 2nd, headed soon after, ridden 7th, weakening when mistake next
in touch and keen, ridden 5th, soon weakened and pulled up before 7th
mid-division, ridden and some headway approaching 3 out, plugged on
In this contest, we like the look of Air Force One ahead of Hello It's Me and Hilly Gale. Air Force One revealed his credentials for this level when winning at Leicester after having shown promise behind the useful Flight Leader before that and, with this race lacking strength in depth, he has to be seriously considered. Hello It's Me is a course and distance winner and, even though his rating is not too impressive, he might get amongst the money. Hilly Gale and No Regrets have shown bumper promise and are respected, while Troglodyte's fourth to Sir Jimmy Shand last time reads fairly well and he might prove best of the rest. Overall, though, we take Air Force One to score again.
Air Force One (GER) 5-2 (10-12) In touch, ridden approaching 2 out, led last, ran on, won at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec beating Master Eddy (10-12) by 2l, 14 ran.
Hello It's Me 2-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and effort before 2 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 6, 6l behind dhtrs Nobodys Perfect (11-1) & Cloudmor (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Hilly Gale 5-2fav (11-0) Close up, ridden 3f out, chased winner entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Crashtown Hall (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (6) gs in Dec.
Just Smudge 14-1 (10-13) In touch, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Appleaday (10-11) at Ludlow 2m nhf (4) gs in Dec.
Lynnie's Vic (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, pushed along over 6f out, soon struggling, 11th of 20, well behind Den of Iniquity (11-2) at Warwick 2m nhf (6) gs in Dec.
Nocivo (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Keen in mid-division, hit 6th, soon weakened, 13th of 16, well behind Amaretto Rose (10-5) at Ascot 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
No Regrets (FR) 11-4 (11-4) In touch, outpaced over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Arumun (10-11) at Haydock 2m nhf (H) gd in Mar '05.
Onefourfun (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 14, 15l behind West Ridge (11-2) at Wincanton 2m nhf (6) gs in Dec.
Play It Again 100-1 (10-7) In touch until weakened after 3 out, 10th of 17, 45l behind Portland Bill (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft.
Rolons Advice 100-1 (11-7) Led to 10th, hit 11th, weakening when blundered 12th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Royal Katidoki (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Oct, 7 ran.
Silverbar 66-1 (11-5) Always behind, 15th of 16, well behind French Saulaie (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Troglodyte 80-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 15, 19l behind Sir Jimmy Shand (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Victor Daly (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 11, 22l behind Top Ram (11-4) at Towcester 2m nhf (6) gs in Feb.
Where's My Baby (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Trigger The Light (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
Zaffas Melody (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up pushed along, struggling from 6th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Shrewd Investor (10-12) at Bangor 3m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Ruby Dante (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up in tch; hdwy when unseated rider in race won by Classi Maureen (11-7) at Cilwendeg 3m ptp hvy in Mar, 8 ran.