mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened from next
led early, chased leaders, dropped rear 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and kept on from next, no impression
held up, headway to lead 6th, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened
chased leader, ridden and lost place approaching 3 out, soon weakened
behind from 5th, tailed off and pulled up before next
tracked leaders, headway approaching 3 out, led briefly before next, ridden and kept on to chase winner flat
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up behind, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, led next, stayed on under pressure flat
slowly away, soon led, hit and headed 6th, chased leaders until weakened aproaching 3 out
Kidithou gets a tentative nomination over Villago and Dark Thunder. The last named has not enjoyed the best of fortune this season and, as his competition record would suggest, is one to tread carefully with. However, he has ability when he gets it right and doesn't have too much to find to get competitive at this level. Villago represents a shrewd yard and is respected on the best of his efforts. He stays well and looks sure to make a bold to shrug off top weight this afternoon. Nevertheless, Kidithou has comparable form and looks to be running into form of late. The selection comes here on the back of a respectable effort here earlier in the month and is fancied to relish the step up in trip today.
Villago (GER) 7-2fav (11-0) Mid-division, effort 9th, chased leaders after next, soon ridden, kept on one pace, 2nd of 16, 5l behind Not Today Sir (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan.
Kidithou (FR) 100-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway under pressure 7th, outpaced 4 out, 4th of 19, 24l behind Seymar Lad (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Cloudmor (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Held up, effort approaching 3 out, no impression, 5th of 15, 16l behind Etched In Stone (11-5) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Dark Thunder (IRE) 11-2 (9-9) Behind, some headway 3 out, outpaced next, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 27l behind General Duroc (11-12) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Lady Past Times 16-1 (10-3) Always behind, struggling when pulled up 5 out in race won by Joe Brown (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
The Masareti Kid (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Held up in touch and keen, pushed along 6th, lost place next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Michaels Dream (10-11) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Aug, 8 ran.
Team Resdev (IRE) 50-1 (10-8) In touch, headway, effort after 4 out, 3 lengths down, staying on when fell 3 out fell 3 out in race won by Silver Seeker (10-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
Cody 40-1 (11-4) Chased leaders to halfway, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by New Alco (10-2) at Sedgefield 2m 5f beg chs (E) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Fifteen Reds 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 5th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Moyne Pleasure (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan, 9 ran.