held up, behind from 8th, lost touch and pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
made all, quickened up 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure
tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
tracked winner, mistake 3 out, ridden next, soon weakened
in rear when mistake 2nd, fell 5th
held up, closer order when mistake 6th, driven 4 out, headway after 3 out, weakened 2 out
in rear when fell 3rd
in touch, outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure to take 2nd flat but always held
A few ifs and buts here so the nomination of Soixante is only tentative. A shrewd bit of placing sees Mendosino unpenalised for his win at Ludlow and he has to be respected as a result but that wasn't the strongest race we'll see this season and he may be worth opposing. Lease Back gets on well with Jamie Moore but is probably high enough in the weights whilst Very Cool has gone up 7lbs for his Taunton third. In Media Res and Legally Fast are returning from absences and Tisseman has a question or two to answer. Ex-Irish Cardozer is interesting as he doesn't look too badly treated at all on the pick of his form; market support would put him firmly in the picture. We'll side with Henrietta Knight's runner who has been improving steadily with experience. He ran his best race to date when coming through the pack to finish second in a handicap here which featured several unexposed and promising sorts. He's bred to improve for this longer trip which may negate his rise in the weights and Soixante gets the nod.
Lease Back (FR) 16-1 (10-6) In touch until mistake and unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Lidjo De Rouge (10-1) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jan, 8 ran.
Cardozer (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd when ran off bend after 8th, 6th 4 out, soon no extra, 9th of 20, 36l behind Scavenger (11-12) at Gowran Park 3m mdn hdl gs in Dec.
Very Cool 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, led 3rd, hit 7th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 16, 3l behind Iroquois Warrior (11-11) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
In Media Res (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Mid-division until weakened 5th, 8th of 12, 42l behind Ellerslie Tom (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Sept '06.
Soixante (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, hit last, soon ridden, no extra when headed towards finish, 2nd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Exmoor Ranger (11-1) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Legally Fast (USA) 14-1 (10-9) Led to after 1st, tracked leader until approaching 3 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Maharbal (10-5) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec '06.
Mendosino (GER) 7-2jt-fav (11-5) Held up, headway 7th, led 4 out, clear 3 out, edged left 2 out, held on gamely flat, won at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Feb beating Mister Sher (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Tisseman (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 7th, soon hard ridden and weakened after 3 out, 7th of 11, well behind The Very Man (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Kristoffersen 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden after 8th, never troubled leaders, 4th of 16, 17l behind Iroquois Warrior (11-11) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
