chased leaders, led over 1f out, ran on strongly
held up well in rear, headway over 2f out, kept on well, never a threat
midfield, lost place well over 2f out
led, driven clear over 4f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked clear leader, took closer order over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up in rear, ridden over 5f out, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, weakened final furlong
Irondale Express has the highest rating of these but has struggled to get his head in front. It's possible that the drop into a claimer will do the trick but he's hardly a reliable prospect. Gabrial The Thug may not enjoy the ground, his only victory so far having come on good to firm going, though he finished ahead of the tailed-off Iftikaar at Musselburgh last month. HEARTSTRINGS has a bit to find at the weights but her latest third at Windsor was a better effort and not the first time she's run well on soft going. Mick Channon's filly gets a tentative vote.
Iftikaar (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, lost place well over 2f out, last of 12, 30l behind An Cat Dubh (9-3) at Musselburgh 1m 1f sel hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Oct.
Gabrial The Thug (FR) 15-2 (9-10) Held up, ridden over 2f out, some headway final furlong, not trouble leaders, 6th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Innoko (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) in Oct.
Lucky North 20-1 (9-11) Tracked leader 3f, in touch, reminders over 4f out, soon lost place, behind over 2f out, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Sov (9-5) at Pontefract 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gf in Sep.
Riponian 100-1 (9-3) Chased leader, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 7, 32l behind Mixed Message (8-12) at Redcar 1m 2f sell stks (6) gd in Oct.
Noble Reach 12-1 (8-4) In touch, took keen hold when saddle slipped after 3f, remained close up until lost place over 1f out, eased inside final furlong, last of 13, 20l behind May Queen (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) in Oct.
Irondale Express 10-1 (10-10) Raced centre, slowly away, always in rear, 15th of 17, 14l behind Echo Of Lightning (10-8) at Leicester 7f am hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct.
Heartstrings 10-1 (8-10) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, soon every chance kept on and lost 2nd place close home, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Vaguely Spanish (8-10) at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Oct.