held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway approaching next, shaken up to go 2nd after 6th, took narrow lead 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept battling away, just held
tracked leaders, raced keenly, left in lead 5th, not fluent next, ridden and headed 3f out, kept battling away, regained lead gamely inside final furlong, all out
held up in last, raced keenly, still appeared to be travelling well 6th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch, raced keenly, left close 2nd 5th, not fluent next, outpaced by leading pair over 2f out
led until approaching 4th, soon pushed along, weakened 6th, tailed off
pressed leader, led approaching 4th, terrible blunder and headed 5th, not recover after, weakened after next
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, struggling next, soon weakened
ANY GIVEN DAY will be a warm order to see off Rajeh and Pepporoni Pete. The grey seems to handle just about any surface and while the handicapper has thumped him with another 9lb rise; the lack of opposition against him speaks volumes. Rajeh has finished in mid-division on his flat runs this season. He had won a Market Rasen event in the past so if the favourite has any flaws; he could be placed to prosper. Pepporoni Pete has been a credit to Milton Harris given the series of problems he has had in the past. The visor that accompanied his latest start has been swiftly disregarded. Pillar Of Hercules has been tried in much stronger handicaps than this and is proven on the surface. Osprey View returns from a year off whilst McQueen and Fuel Cell look up against it. Any Given Day is no gimme at these terms but he looks the most plausible winner on balance.
Any Given Day (IRE) Evensfav (11-10) Chased leaders, 2nd approaching 5th, led after next, clear from 2 out, not fluent last, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul beating Moment Present (11-10) by 12l, 8 ran.
Rajeh (IRE) 6-4fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 6th, weakened next, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Swordsman (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Nov '07, 14 ran.
Pillar of Hercules (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, weakened approaching 4 out, 8th of 10, 32l behind Dancewiththedevil (9-9) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jul.
Pepporoni Pete (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 10, 10l behind Dancewiththedevil (9-9) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jul.
Osprey View (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden after 5th, soon behind, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Rawaabet (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f clm hdl (5) gs in Nov.
McQueen (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching last, 6th of 17, 15l behind Whats Up Bob (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Fuel Cell (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, held from 3 out, 8th of 13, 39l behind Lord Ryeford (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.