held up, not fluent, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, weakening when headed approaching last
held up mid-division, lost place 4th, soon driven along and outpaced, ridden approaching 2 out, headway to lead approaching last, kept on well
soon tracking leaders and keen, weakened 4 out
led, hit 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened when hit last
held up in touch, pushed along and weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway to go prominent 3rd, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, headway 3 out, chased winner when hit last, no impression
always behind, mistake 3rd, outpaced from 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
prominent, outpaced approaching 7th, soon tailed off
always towards rear, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 6th, weakened approaching next, tailed off
Zumrah, L'Eau Du Nil and Harry Blade look the three against the field in the opener with the vote going to the last named. Nigel Twiston-Davies has a strike rate at Perth which is second to none. Harry Blade has not been seen since November of last year. On that occasion he was beaten into the winners enclosure by Lord Henry who proved to be no rag last season. The stable have no trouble getting them ready first time out and if not ring rusty is worth staying on the right side of. His biggest threat will be L'Eau Du Nil who would have been closer but for a mistake at the last when last seen out at Ludlow back in April. He looks the type that will improve and again comes from a yard that does well at this track so is worth noting in the market. Zumrah is another to have traveled from the other side of the country.He was only just touched off at Worcester last time out and with fitness on his side and McCoy booked to ride he is worth consideration. But for the winner we return to Harry Blade.
Ardynagh (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway halfway to track leaders, effort approaching 2f out, no extra, 3rd of 9, 22l behind Dance Party (10-7) at Hexham 2m nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
Handa Island (USA) 12-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, lost place 6th, ridden 3 out, soon no impression, 6th of 13, 45l behind Beamish Prince (10-5) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Dec.
Harry Blade 3-1 (11-0) Tracked winner after 1st, outpaced from 5th, kept on from 2 out but no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Lord Henry (11-6) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Nov.
Nobodysgonanotice (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Led to 3rd, chased leader to 5th, soon ridden and lost place, tailed off 3 out, 6th of 8, well behind Quizzical (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gf in Aug.
L'Eau Du Nil (FR) 15-8fav (10-12) Held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, held when mistake last, no extra, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Ma Yahab (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gd in Apr.
Starbright 100-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, hampered 3rd, pushed along and struggling from 6th, 5th of 10, well behind Ostfanni (10-7) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (E) gf in Aug.
Corsican Native (USA) 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division, moderate 12th and kept on same pace from 3 out, 8th of 20, 16l behind Kinger Rocks (10-9) at Galway 2m nov hdl gf in Jul.
Zumrah (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, ran on, 2nd of 13, nk behind Giust In Temp (10-9) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (E) gf in Aug.