in touch, outpaced when hit 2 out, 5th and no impression when mistake last
chased leaders, lost place 5th, kept on under pressure between last 2, no impression
behind, ridden 2 out, never on terms
mid-divison on inside, outpaced 2 out, weakened last
soon pushed along in mid-division, outpaced 2 out, ridden and stayed on well from last, nearest finish
led until headed after 2 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before last
mid-division, driven and headway after 3 out, ridden to chase winner after next, kept on same pace flat
chased leaders, weakened 2 out
chased leader, disputed lead after 5th, lost place 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, lost place 2 out, soon weakened
in rear, reminders 4th, never dangerous
mid-division, headway and in touch approaching 2 out, ridden to chase leaders approaching last, kept on same pace
in touch, ridden and weakened 2 out
held up behind, headway and outside after 3 out, led after next, ridden and stayed on well flat
Plenty of runners here but the business end of the race should chiefly concern Barney, Willhewispa, Salinas and Seymour Weld, and Barney just gets the nod. Many of these are exposed, including the selection, but he is chosen here because he rarely does anything but run up to form, and although he has not won from this mark, he has performed with plenty of credit from it. He also loves the track, and acts on the ground so he gets the nod. Willhewispa tries this trip for the first time and it is worth a go. It may help to give him longer to get involved, and he acts on the ground, though his pedigree suggests that his stamina may indeed be stretched too far. Salinas is running well enough and has the champion booked, though that was not enough to win last time and he just looks a little to high in the weights, while Seymour Weld would not want the ground too fast to be at his best, and this looks his optimum trip, so he is not ruled out. But Barney has a fair bit going for him and is the selection here.
Gilo 66-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden after 3rd, weakened before 4th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Paddy's Tern (10-10) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Wilhewispa 8-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Andijan (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Seymour Weld 20-1 (10-13) Raced keenly, held up and behind, headway approaching 2 out, kept on flat, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind El Bandindos (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Salinas (GER) 15-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, led after 6th, headed after 3 out, still every chance 2 out, mistake last, no extra, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Le Corvee (11-5) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Singhalongtasveer 14-1 (11-10) Held up, headway 3 out, led approaching last, mistake and headed flat, weakened towards finish, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Hello It's Me (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Aug.
Barney (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden after last, soon every chance, no extra flat, 4th of 10, 9l behind Donovan (11-6) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Jul.
Balakar (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, stayed on from before 2 out, 6th of 25, 5l behind Katcharto Lady (10-8) at Punchestown 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-109 gf in May.
Welsh Dream 10-1 (11-7) Behind from 5th, never dangerous, 11th of 15, 34l behind Court One (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Sept.
Le Rouge Fatal (FR) 11-1 (10-7) Mid-division, close up 4th, weakened 3 out, 11th of 14, 30l behind Dream Castle (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Tullypole Thunder (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden in moderate 6th after 3 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 15, 12l behind Quizzical (10-9) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 gf in May.
Court One 7-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Sept beating Greenfort Brave (11-8) by 2l, 15 ran.
Oeil d'Estruval (FR) 4-1fav (10-11) Mid-division, headway and in touch 6th, effort 2 out, ridden and one pace approaching last, 4th of 15, 7l behind Court One (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Sept.
Ramblees Holly 50-1 (11-2) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 12th of 15, 40l behind Court One (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Sept.
Snow's Ride 20-1 (10-0) Towards rear, headway after 4 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last, 4th of 11, 22l behind Irish Raptor (10-6) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sept.
Fairy Skin Maker (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden 11th, soon tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Vicario (10-3) at Sedgefield 2m 5f beg chs (4) sft in Feb '06.
