held up mid-division, headway to track leaders 10th, effort 4 out, soon weakened
behind, headway 8th, soon chasing leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
led after 1st, driven 4 out, strongly challenged from 2 out, headed towards finish, no extra
led 1st, soon in touch, chased leaders 3out, weakened after 2nd last
prominent, pushed along 5th, lost place 7th, behind 10th
held up in rear, mistake and unseated rider 8th
prominent, ridden and effort 4 out, soon chasing leader, every chance 2 out, hard ridden and stayed on under pressure to lead last strides (no time taken)
Count Boris keeps finding one or two too good and QUEDILLAC can be his conqueror this time, with Pomander also likely to figure in the closing stages. Tim Vaughan's charge has run with credit since joining the yard from the point-to-point field. This sort of trip looks set to prove his optimum and a mark of 105 might just underestimate his ability slightly, so against a bunch of more exposed sorts he looks worth chancing on this, his handicap debut. Count Boris has been well backed on more than one occasion of late without success. He has been placed on all four starts since returning from a lengthy absence and deserves praise for that, but the handicapper has kept on his tail and may just have his measure at present. Pomander made the handicapper look a little silly last time with a quietly impressive success, appearing more superior as the race went on. With that in mind this step up in trip should suit and he may not be done with yet, despite the assessor's attempts to collar him. Not For Diamonds last tasted success here and as that came off this mark under identical conditions he's got to be given a mention, but any horse beaten 59 lengths last time is hard to fancy and he'll need to bounce back to form in style. Jordan makes her handicap debut so keep abreast of any market moves, but at this stage she's very hard to fancy. Gunnadoit is handicapped to win but has been in poor form of late, so we're taking him on again in the shape of Quedillac.
Quedillac (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 6th, led 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, switched left flat, one pace, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Victory Parade (10-12) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Attorney General (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Ran in snatches, chased leading pair, driven along 7th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Canni Thinkaar (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy, 9 ran.
Count Boris 9-4fav (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Quay Meadow (10-2) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Pomander (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Jumped well, raced on inside, made most until headed after 7th, stayed in contention, chased leader on long run to 3 out, rallied to lead 2 out, soon in command, stayed on strongly, won at Plumpton 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (0-105) (4) hvy beating Marsh Court (10-7) by 6l, 7 ran.
Gunnadoit (USA) 8-1 (10-4) Chased leader, pushed along 5th, lost place before 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 39l behind Cobbler's Queen (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Not For Diamonds (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Held up mid-division, under pressure halfway, soon beaten, 5th of 9, well behind Vivarini (10-10) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Ethiopia 18-1 (11-12) Prominent, lost place before 3rd, reminder after next, some progress after 3 out, no impression, 6th of 13, 22l behind Canni Thinkaar (11-9) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Feb.
Jordan 33-1 (10-5) Behind, headway and in touch 8th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, weakened from next, 4th of 10, 45l behind Ravenclaw (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
