held up towards rear, driven, headway after 3 out, stayed on well run-in
always rear, struggling 3 out, soon eased, tailed off
led, joined 3 out, headed under pressure 2 out, lost 2nd approaching last, weakened run-in
always towards rear, mistake 5th
behind, some late headway
chased leader 3rd, driven, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, steady headway approaching 3 out, driven to chase leading pair approaching 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, led run-in, driven out
held up towards rear, blundered 3rd, stayed on from 2 out, not reach leaders
chased leader to 3rd, stayed prominent, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd soon after 3 out, led 2 out, headed, unable to quicken run-in
towards rear, hit 5th, headway from 3 out, stayed on one pace from next
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened, blundered 2 out
held up in rear, hit 3rd, still plenty to do after 3 out, hit 2 out, stayed on well run-in
mid-division, ridden 6th, soon weakened
Backlash was a comfortable winner at Wincanton a week last Saturday and a 7lb rise may not prevent Tony Carroll's gelding from following up that success so he gets the vote ahead of Brousse En Feux and Charmahal. The last mentioned failed to sparkle on four starts for Jonjo O'Neill last season but it may be too soon to write him off completely. Double Spectre made a promising return to the winter game at Lingfield last month and has place claims on that evidence, while Lady Suffragette gave the impression that she would need another run to put her spot on when making her return at Huntingdon last time. David Pipe's Brousse En Feux is less exposed than most of these but needs to improve on all known form to trouble the judge and a reproduction of last time out form by Backlash may well suffice.
Maximix 20-1 (10-12) Keen and soon clear, hit 4th and 5th, virtually pulled up and lost clear advantage approaching 4 out, soon headed, no chance after, 5th of 6, well behind Malakiya (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Double Spectre (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Held up, jumped right, headway to chase leaders 4 out, kept on, 3rd of 15, 7l behind Mister Right (11-0) at Lingfield 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Sept.
Charmahal (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, mistake 4th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Copper Bay (11-2) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Dec, 8 ran.
Backlash 11-2 (11-4) In touch, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, ran on from last, won at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf beating Dancewiththedevil (11-9) by 5l, 13 ran.
Lidjo De Rouge (FR) 66-1 (10-8) Towards rear, headway approaching 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 11th of 14, 20l behind City Affair (12-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Barodine 12-1 (11-5) Towards rear when fell at the 3rd in race won by Backlash (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf, 13 ran.
Amnesty 11-2 (11-3) Held up, driven approaching 3 out, rapid headway under pressure to lead before 2 out, driven out, won at Plumpton 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Sept beating Chunky Lad (11-4) by 3l, 11 ran.
Lady Suffragette (IRE) 9-2fav (10-0) In touch, driven to challenge 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 14, 14l behind Sun King (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Brousse En Feux (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened between last 2, 5th of 16, 17l behind Holiday Cocktail (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sept.
She's Humble (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Towards rear, steady headway 6th, challenged approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 8l behind Pauls Plain (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl (5) gf.
Mossmann Gorge 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along after 4th, weakened after 5th, last of 16, well behind Holiday Cocktail (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sept.
Flying Grey (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Chased leader, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Summer of Love (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gf.
Ghaill Force 8-1 (10-6) Held up behind, good headway approaching 3 out, led and mistake 2 out, soon ridden, headed final strides, 2nd of 13, nk behind Temper Lad (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Livia (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, led 6th, ridden and headed approaching last, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 10l behind Templet (10-12) at Southwell 2m sll hdl (5) gf in Jul '06.
