tracked leaders, ridden and dropped to rear 2 out, soon outpaced
in touch, ridden and dropped to rear 3 out, soon outpaced
tracked leader until 6th, tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, weakening when hit last
held up in rear, hit 5th, ridden and headway 2 out, went 3rd next, kept on one pace
in touch, headway to track leader 6th, joined leader 3 out, ridden next, driven and stayed on to lead towards finish, ran on
led, ridden 2 lengths clear last, headed and no extra towards finish
Vaihau lost any remaining chance in a maiden hurdle at Stratford with a mistake at the last but is not easily written off in this. Experimentalist has a shout off his current mark but hasn't raced since February and Dardanella arrives out of sorts. Vaillant Creek and Raktiman posted better efforts last time and could be thereabouts but a tentative vote goes to SHEAR ROCK, who just failed to catch the winner at Warwick with a late surge for the line and should be suited by this longer trip.
Experimentalist 20-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out until soon after 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Minellahalfcentury (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Vaihau (FR) 10-3 (11-0) Tracked leader, challenged and every chance on long run between last 2, no impression in 3rd before last, 3rd of 11, 22l behind Foxtail Hill (10-9) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Dardanella 11-4fav (11-6) Mid-division, jumped right at times, not fluent 7th, headway after next, weakened before 2 out, last of 8, 47l behind Magic Money (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Oct.
Shear Rock (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Held up in last pair, headway into 3rd approaching 2 out, ridden and chased winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Mont Royale (11-4) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Raktiman (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Held up in rear but in touch, headway approaching 2 out, soon chasing winner stayed on strongly after last, nearest finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Dunlough Bay (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Vaillant Creek (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, not fluent 3 out, every chance next, no extra flat, 5th of 12, 7l behind Fingers Crossed (10-12) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
