mid-division, headway 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, ridden between last two, went 2nd briefly after last, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, headway 2 out, kept on into 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
mid-division, chasing leaders when not fluent 7th, weakened before the last
chased leader, led 2nd, made rest, clear 2 out, stayed on strongly
mid-division, went 3rd 10th, pushed along before 3 out, ridden hung right and weakened between last two
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 8th, weakened 2 out
led, went left 1st, went left again and headed next, chased winner until before 6th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 4 out
chased leaders, went 2nd before 6th, no chance with winner when blundered last, weakened run-in
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on run-in, nearest finish
always towards rear, never a factor
towards rear, ridden along after 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
always behind, tailed off
chased leaders, blundered and unseated rider 8th
always towards rear, never on terms
never better than mid-division
BRACING and Touch Of Steel were both placed in their respective divisions of the same handicap at Ayr last month. But the former was having her first start since April when runner-up and should be sharper for this. The latter had landed a double earlier and should figure again while Winter Alchemy is capable of better judged on an earlier second at Bangor and is preferred to stablemate Parc Des Princes. Drop A Gear was placed in a higher grade last time and is another to consider.
Drop A Gear (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Led, pushed along and headed 3 out, no chance with winner, ridden and lost 2nd between last two, plugged on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 7, 8 3/4l behind Bruce Almighty (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Parc Des Princes (USA) 8-1 (11-2) Always behind, 10th of 11, 34 1/4l behind Alizee De Janeiro (10-1) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Tickanrun (IRE) 28-1 (10-7) Chased leaders in 3rd, beaten from 3 out, 3rd of 5, dist behind Smart Talk (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) gs in Nov.
Touch Of Steel (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before 3 out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Love The Leader (12-1) at Ayr 3m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
No Such Number 16-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, hung right and hit 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 9, 9 1/2l behind Maraweh (11-4) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Winter Alchemy (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) Led, headed 3 out (usual 4 out), soon lost place and behind, stayed on to take modest 4th flat, 4th of 8, 11 3/4l behind Andhaar (11-12) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Apache Blue (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Prominent when jumped slowly 1st, chased leaders, slow again 2nd, struggling from 11th, tailed off, 7th of 10, dist behind Over And Above (10-13) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
The Late Shift 20-1 (10-7) Held up, in rear when hampered 8th, pulled up soon after, at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Bracing 15-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led before 3 out, headed before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Destiny Awaits (11-4) at Ayr 3m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Solway Bay 14-1 (11-6) Last pair, lost touch 8th, pushed along in 6th before 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th before the last, 4th of 7, 11 3/4l behind Derryfadda (11-7) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Oxalido (FR) 18-1 (11-2) Hit 5th, always towards rear, 11th of 15, dist behind Tennessee Bird (10-8) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Indepub 8-1fav (10-0) Held up in rear, slightly hampered 8th, kept on from last, modest 5th run-in, 5th of 14, 34l behind Amuse Me (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Mister Hendre 40-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, soon reminders, soon weakened, 5th of 6, dist behind Shantou Village (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Wyfield Rose 15-2 (10-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along 4 out, ridden before next, soon weakened, last of 9, 34 1/2l behind Woodstock (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Just My Luke 33-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, weakened from 3 out, pulled up before last, at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
