held up towards, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, chased winner approaching next, hit last, kept on same pace
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders approaching 6th, no impression from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway from 4 out, led after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on, driven out
in rear, pushed along 4th, reminders after next, lost place from 6th, tailed off
led early, tracked leader, weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, kept on to go 3rd after last
soon led, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
SMART MAN is the tentative selection here ahead of Muntami and Vecchio Senso. Evelyn Slack's gelding has been well-held since winning at Newcastle in October 2008 but hasn't had a hatful of runs. He is now 10lb higher than when winning at Newcastle but has ideal ground conditions today and looks sure to run well. Estrica tries blinkers but is hard to fancy from out of the weights, so a bigger threat should be Just Waz for whom better ground will suit and he looks handicapped to win as he tries a tongue-tie for the first time. Vecchio Senso has a little to prove as he was well-held at Carlisle when last seen; however after a break he may fare better with James O'Farrell back in the saddle. Young Buddy has become frustrating to follow, having passed up decent opportunities of late, whilst Muntami won well here last month and looks the biggest threat. He is 7lb higher in the handicap now but may still have more improvement to come, especially as this course specialist has won off a mark of 103 in the past. An open affair, but the vote goes to Smart Man.
Muntami (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, progress to track leaders after 3 out, joined leader next, led last, ridden and edged left, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar beating Amir Pasha (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Young Buddy 11-4fav (10-8) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, 8th and no impression when fell next, in a race won by Lawgiver (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft, 14 ran.
Vecchio Senso (IRE) 4-1fav (11-0) Towards rear, headway approaching 6th, led 3 out, hit and headed 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 13, 21l behind Mister Marker (11-3) at Carlisle 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gs in Mar.
Just Waz (USA) 18-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden and struggling before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Barron Watlass (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Mar, 14 ran.
Smart Man 40-1 (10-3) Made most to before 7th, soon ridden and lost place, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Lawgiver (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Owls Fc (IRE) 250-1 (9-12) Towards rear on outer, pushed along and headway to chase leader approaching 3 out, weakened going to next, 5th of 11, 18l behind Santera (10-6) at Doncaster 2m clm hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Adjami (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 7th, 11th of 12, well behind Shropshirelass (10-9) at Stratford 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Mar.
Estrica (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Always behind, ridden and struggling 7th, tailed off, 6th of 14, 39l behind Hello You (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
