held up in touch, headway 7th, chased winner after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened 3 out
held up, headway 9th, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden to chase winner from 3 out, soon beaten
chased leader, not fluent 1st and 2nd, reminders and lost place 6th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, pushed along after 6th, in rear when fell after 7th
held up towards rear, took closer order and raced wide 2nd, weakened approching 4 out, virtually pulled up before next
chased leaders, led 7th, clear from 2 out, easily
led to 7th, lost place next, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, lost place 6th, pulled up before next
Arnold Layne is just given the nod over King Of Confusion, with Notaproblem also expected to be in the firing line. The selection easily landed a soft ground bumper back in April before showing plenty of promise on his hurdles debut last month. The extra distance today should be ideal and he looks the one to be on. King Of Confusion has been in great heart this season landing back to back victories at Kelso, before finishing an excellent second to Harrycone Lewis. As with the selection there are no ground concerns and he should provide a major threat. Notaproblem bounced back to form at Wetherby last time, chasing home Brandy wine in a handicap. If in the same mood today he should be thereabouts. Rathowen looks the pick of the others, but Arnold Layne is expected to show vast improvement and he gets our vote.
King of Confusion (IRE) 5-4fav (10-11) Held up in touch, headway approaching last, unable to quicken flat, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Harrycone Lewis (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Dec.
Notaproblem (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden to challenge last, kept on, 2nd of 12, shd behind Brandy Wine (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 7f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs in Nov.
Arnold Layne (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Held up rear, headway 7th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 12l behind Vingis Park (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
Bowes Cross 100-1 (10-7) Always behind, 15th of 17, well behind Napoleon (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gf in Dec.
Gay Kindersley (IRE) 6-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, reminders next, never dangerous after, 6th of 7, 48l behind Jimmy Bond (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) sft in Dec.
Rathowen (IRE) 5-2 (10-9) Towards rear, headway halfway to track leaders, went 2nd 3 out, one pace under pressure, 2nd of 9, 5l behind According To John (10-12) at Newcastle 3m nh nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
Rowan Castle 150-1 (10-0) Mid-division, lost place after 7th, soon behind, 11th of 15, 46l behind Valley Ride (11-11) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) hvy in Dec.
Sports Express 7-2 (10-12) Led, headed after 2nd, led again 6th, headed 7th, ridden 2 out, led and hit last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind Cha Cha Cha Dancer (10-11) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) sft in Nov '04.
