held up, headway when not much room 2f out, ridden and stayed on to chase winner 1f out, no impression
raced keenly, tracked leaders, headway 3f out, chased winner 2f out, to 1f out, ridden and no extra final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced, weakened final frulong
in touch on outside, ridden 2f out, no impression approaching final furlong
made all, ridden clear entering final furlong, stayed on well
raced keenly, soon tracked winner, ridden 3f out, lost place 2f otu, soon weakened
held up, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
If Raucous has retained his ability after missing a season then he has chance of making a mockery of this field but his return to action wasn't that promising so instead we turn to FORT CHURCHILL with Edas another to look at. Raucous once took a race off a mark of 80 on fast ground but that came at this time of year in 2007. An absence of 632 days was followed by a weak looking return when well beaten in a better race at Southwell and while he may have needed that run it's not clear if his former skills remain. Our selection, Fort Churchill, drops down into this class for the first time after some indifferent efforts in handicaps recently. The last run can be forgiven has his stamina was stretched and his winning performance at Goodwood in September rates has some of the strongest form in this race. Edas has been going well this winter in some poor handicaps but he would like some cut in the ground while Southern Waters is an interesting recruit to the level after a promising bumper run at Sedgefield. A return to form for Raucous could blow this race apart but with little evidence for that we go with Fort Churchill.
Bridgewater Boys 25-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 4f out, never dangerous, 12th of 18, 12l behind Monfils Monfils (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 4f app hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (5) gf in Mar.
Edas 15-8fav (9-3) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 3f out, headed near line, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Inside Story (8-13) at Southwell 1m 3f hacp 0-70 (5) fbs in Feb.
Fort Churchill (IRE) 66-1 (9-2) Mid-division, raced keenly, bumped along and lost place over 3f out, last of 9, 24l behind Laurel Creek (10-0) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Just Observing 6-1fav (11-3) In touch, driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 15, 10l behind Director's Chair (10-8) at Doncaster 1m 2f am hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) gd in Mar.
Raucous (GER) 8-1 (9-3) Held up and lost place, ridden over 3f out, no impression, 4th of 5, 11l behind Swiss Act (9-6) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Mar.
Southern Waters (FR) 10-11fav (11-3) In touch, headway to chase winner over 4f out to 3f out, soon ridden and one pace, 4th of 11, 16l behind Gunpoint (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Titinius (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Mid-division, outpaced 2f out, never on terms, 9th of 15, 10l behind Ours (9-5) at Pontefract 1m hcap (5) gd in Jul.
