tracked leaders, hit 4th, switched left to challenge approaching 2 out, every chance last, ran on under pressure and edged right, led close home, all out
held up in rear, headway 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway after 3 out, soon every chance, held when not much room after last, weakened flat
prominent, pushed along 2 out, weakened approaching last
prominent, jumped slowly 3rd, under pressure and lost place after 3 out
led, challenged halfway, hard ridden and hung left approaching last, headed and no extra close home
with leader, disputed lead from halfway, every chance before 2 out, soon weakened
held up never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, soon ridden to challenge, kept on same pace approaching last
Nonrunner
Overstrand won with plenty in hand when successful at Market Rasen last month and has every chance on similarly testing ground but an 11lb rise in the weights for Richard Newland's gelding for that win makes this more difficult and a better bet looks to be PEPITE DE SOLEIL, who gets the vote ahead of Bruslini. The last mentioned has shown improved form for Philip Hobbs this season after hitting the bar several times last term but he has yet to convince on ground as testing as this and looks best watched at the likely odds. Keith Goldsworthy's William Hogarth has run well in both starts this term and would have every chance if able to handle the ground but he is yet to prove that he does so. Nicky Henderson's Tasheba is another that may prefer faster ground and of more interest may be Nick Gifford's Pascha Bere, who races on ground this soft for the first time since leaving France. The vote then goes the way of Pepite De Soleil, who was well held on his reappearance at Wincanton last month but the softer ground today will help the four-year-old who can open his account for the season for Paul Nicholls.
Tasheba 7-1 (10-4) Held up in touch, lost place 3 out, last of 7, 37l behind Celestial Halo (11-10) at Wincanton 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Pepite De Soleil (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Always behind, 8th of 10, 18l behind Amber Brook (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Pascha Bere (FR) 15-2 (10-9) Led, ridden 2 out, headed soon after last, switched left, stayed on, 3rd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Zabeel Palace (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Overstrand (IRE) 11-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led next, 3 lengths clear last, stayed on well flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Spear Thistle (11-0) by 11l, 7 ran.
Gaspara (FR) 9-2 (11-9) Led, soon clear until 5th, headed 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, 25l behind Lake Legend (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
William Hogarth 10-1 (11-0) Led to 4th, hit next, still every chance 2 out, faded under pressure flat, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Loosen My Load (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Nov.
Chaninbar (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, struggling after, 15th of 20, 33l behind Font (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct '08.
Picot de Say 12-1 (10-6) Always towards rear, 10th of 12, 32l behind Zabeel Palace (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
King's Revenge 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders until weakened soon after 3 out, 7th of 12, 41l behind Dontpaytheferryman (9-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
Bruslini (FR) 7-4fav (10-12) Tracked leader, raced keenly, challenged 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Haydock 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Kack Handed (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
