mid-division until weakened after 6th, tailed off
in touch, went 3rd and soon ridden approaching 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, ridden to dispute 2nd after 2 out, no extra flat
prominent, led 3rd, drew clear from last comfortably
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
prominent until blundered and unseated rider 5th
held up towards rear, headway after 6th, soon ridden, no further impression
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, kept on, always held from last
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, soon mid-division, weakened approaching 6th
held up towards rear, ridden after 6th, stayed on from after 2 out, never troubled leaders
led until 3rd, weakened after 5th, tailed off and pulled up before last
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, soon ridden, kept on same pace from 2 out
mid-division until weakened quickly after 5th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, left 2nd at the 5th, weakened before next, tailed off
A competitive contest gets proceedings underway and as usual in these events the market will be very informative but the principals look to be Pocket Too, Lord Lington and Dukes View and the narrow vote is given to Lord Lington. The selection won well last time out when beating Be Positive, Granted that was in a seller and he has a penalty but this does not look much stronger and as he is proven on the ground he gets the vote. Pocket Too rates the main danger on his latest fourth behind Guerrilla, he is another that is proven on the ground but he looks vulnerable under top weight. Duke's View was a fair second behind Top Trees last time out and is another with place claims but his best form is on a faster surface and he may need the run after a 380 day break. Mendosino is another that could go well as he hails from a shrewd yard but he as a 3 year absence to overcome and is opposable on that basis but he is worth a cautionary look in the market. Of the remainder Atlantic Rhapsody was a fair third behind First Boy last time but he looks weighted up to his best and in a race where stakes should be kept to the minimum for the winner we return to Lord Lington.
Pocket Too 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 4l behind Guerilla (10-11) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Insignia (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Held up, headway approaching 7th, led 2 out, clear when hit last, eased towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jul beating Orion Express (10-12) by 13l, 11 ran.
Top Trees 5-1 (11-10) Held up, headway 3 out, led soon after, ridden when slipped and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Red Moor (11-3) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd, 12 ran.
Lord Lington (FR) 11-4fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, soon clear, eased run-in, won at N Abbot 2m 3f sll hdl (5) sft beating Be Positive (10-11) by 17l, 9 ran.
Atlantic Rhapsody (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway approaching 4th, every chance last, one pace flat, 3rd of 13, 6l behind First Boy (10-8) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jun.
Archimboldo (USA) 18-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 12, 13l behind Celticello (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jul.
Hail The King (USA) 18-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind City Affair (11-7) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
Salinas (GER) 9-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden and chased leaders 3 out, kept on well flat, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Guerilla (10-11) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Mendosino (GER) 5-1fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 18, 20l behind Just Kate (10-3) at Ludlow 2m 5f cnd nov hcp hdl (E) gd in Apr '04.
Marigolds Way 25-1 (10-3) In touch, reminders 3rd, ridden 5th, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 22l behind Cottingham (11-10) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (3) gd.
Sun Hill 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden 4th, kept on at one pace to go distant 4th from 2 out, 4th of 12, well behind Esprit de Corps (11-1) at N Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jun.
Miss Midnight 14-1 (11-3) In touch, went prominent 5th, ridden appoaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 16, 14l behind Willandrich (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Jun.
Duke's View (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) In touch, headway 6th, ridden to chase leader soon after, led briefly after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 2nd of 9, 10l behind Top Trees (10-9) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug '06.
Sparkbridge (IRE) 100-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, in 3rd when swerved badly right and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Sybellius D'artaix (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in May, 9 ran.
