chased leaders, ridden and weakened from halfway
prominent, headway and effort after 4 out, one pace approaching 2 out
held up, headway on inside when fell 4th
led, soon clear, mistake 7th, 20 lengths clear when fell 4 out
towards rear, lost touch from halfway
held up in touch, left 2nd 4 out, ridden next, soon no impression
prominent, shaken up 6th, reminders 8th, headway next, one pace from 2 out
headway halfway to go in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened from next
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, ridden 7th, never troubled leaders
dropped rear 5th, weakened from halfway
A fascinating feature race sees the major northern-based stables sending out some useful performers. The TEAMtalk selection is the consistent Cita Verda who put up a career best run last time out at Cheltenham, finishing fifth beaten only three lengths in a fast run race over an inadequate 17f. Added to the fact he is a course winner Peter Monteith's charge should run well at a decent price. Shalbeblue was not given a hard race on his reappearance at Sedgefield last month and has been laid out for this encounter. He goes well in heavy ground and based on the form he showed last season should give the selection most to do for his in-form trainer. My Shenandoah goes well on most surfaces and won recently at Huntingdon. However he looks poorly handicapped and should be swerved here. Noel's Pride showed progressive form last season and the form of his November run at Sedgefield has worked out well. He should run well for his canny handler. Khan Kicker will find this difficult on his seasonal reappearance but he has good form in the book and cannot be readily dismissed. Bodfari Signet is a really decent animal on his day but is not the most consistent. If he is at his best he will go close and could easily win this. Plutocrat is a tough and genuine horse who rarely runs a poor race. However the ground looks likely not to be fast enough for Len Lungo's gelding.
