mistakes 1st, tracking leaders in 3rd when fell 5th
mid-division, under pressure 3 out, well behind when pulled up before next
in touch, headway to track leader for 5th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, ran on flat to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
held up in mid-division, dropped to rear when badly hampered 5th, ridden after 3 out, kept on under pressure falt
tracked leaders, hit 4th, pushed along after 3 out, driven to challenge 2 out, no impression when hit last
soon tracked leaders to before 5th, ridden and hit 3 out, stayed on to dispute lead and every chance 2 out, soon no chance with winner, lost 2nd near finish
led, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened
behind, struggling 4th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, smooth headway from 5th, led on bit 2 out, drew well clear run-in
never going well in rear, slightly hampered 5th, tailed off when hit 3 out, pulled up before next
Motorway is progressing well and can make it a four-timer here from Gods Token, Nanga Parbat and Mambo. The selection has gone up 9lb for his most recent of those three successes, which came on ground that he didn't particularly care for. He is game and genuine and with better ground forecast here he looks capable of maintaining his improvement. Course and distance winner Gods Token receives 1lb from the selection and could be well handicapped, having come back with a recent Exeter win after a long lay-off. Venetia Williams' yard is going well and he may not bounce here as a result, so we anticipate him being thereabouts. Nanga Parbat is 5lb better off with Motorway for over a 13 length beating at Newbury and although he can get involved he can't reverse the form if it is interpreted literally, while Mambo has been pulled out of a couple of races just lately, presumably awaiting decent ground. If he lines up here he has the ability to go close from this mark, but Motorway is thriving at present and we will stick with him.
Motorway (IRE) 2-1jt-fav (10-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led after 2 out, in command last, driven out flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs beating Desert Air (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Mambo (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened and pulled up at the last in race won by Brooklyn Breeze (11-8) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (B) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Gods Token 3-1fav (11-6) Led until 3 out, rallied gamely under pressure, strong run after last, led close home, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs beating Magot De Grugy (11-10) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Nanga Parbat (FR) 3-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 2 out, 4th and no impression when not fluent last, 4th of 9, 14l behind Motorway (10-8) at Newbury 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-130 (E) gd in Nov.
New Entic (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, 11th of 15, 43l behind Acambo (10-9) at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs.
Foodbroker Founder 3-1fav (11-7) Chased leaders until mistake and lost place 5th, soon well behind, 6th of 11, 21l behind Priors Dale (11-12) at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Nov.
Tanikos (FR) 22-1 (10-6) Prominent, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 14, 16l behind Town Crier (11-4) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Genuine Article (IRE) 40-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, lost place after 4 out, weakened next, 10th of 12, well behind Desert Quest (10-3) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs.
Montesino 9-1 (10-13) Chased leader to 5th, weakened quickly after 8, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Darkness (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (D) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Albarino (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 6th, not clear run after 3 out, kept on well from 2 out, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Natal (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (C) gd.
Batswing 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, reminders 4th, soon behind, 14th of 15, well behind Silkwood Top (10-9) at Windsor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs.
