held up, headway 3 out, went 2nd next, challenged between last 2, ridden and stayed on under pressure to lead flat, all out
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure from next, no impression
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, soon outpaced, 5th and ridden when mistake next, soon weakened
close up on outside, effort 7th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
tracked leader, lost place 3 out, weakened after next
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led before next, soon hard pressed, kept on until ridden and headed flat, no extra
held up, struggling 7th, kept on from 2 out, never near leaders
led, headed when mistake 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
PETROGLYPH is taken to complete a hat-trick in this novices' handicap, while Rebeccas Choice and Below The Deck are among others with claims. The Mick Quinlan-trained selection has won two similar contests, in recent weeks, although both were over further than this. He has now gone up 16lbs for those successes, including today's 7lb penalty, but he won with such ease last time that it will take a very good effort, in the context of this race, to beat him. Rebeccas Choice does not have many miles on the clock and had a nice pipe opener at Carlisle on soft ground last time. He relishes cut and this would be his optimum trip so he can get involved. Below The Deck remains a maiden after 16 starts but enjoyed an upturn in fortunes when runner-up over this trip last time when switched back to hurdling. Consistency is not her strong suit, however, and she is opposed again today. Martin Todhunter's string is in form and Prioryjo may be capable of going close after winning a selling handicap over course and distance last time. Steveys Lad represents a stable that is also going well, so we may see more from him today, but preference is for Petroglyph.
Petroglyph 11-4 (11-2) Mid-division, headway and in touch 9th, challenged 3 out, led before next, drew clear between last 2, eased flat, comfortably, won at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov beating Count Boris (11-10) by 15l, 11 ran.
Lady De La Vega (FR) 66-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 15, 19l behind Manyriverstocross (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Prioryjo 2-1fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway 3 out, led approaching last, ridden clear flat (no time taken), won at Sedgefield 2m 1f sell hcp hld 0-95 (5) sft in Nov beating Bold Pioneer (10-10) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Sharadiyn 50-1 (10-8) In rear, lost touch 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Glencree (11-6) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Below The Deck (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Held up behind and keen, headway 3 out, challenged last, every chance flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Of Course (11-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f am hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov.
Rebeccas Choice (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders and keen, went 3rd 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Do It For Dalkey (10-3) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
Steveys Lad (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Led to 2nd, stayed in touch, pushed along and behind from 4 out, 7th of 12, 39l behind Menorah (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Chigorin 16-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 30l behind Chapel Flowers (11-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Nightboat To Cairo (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 8th of 9, 21l behind Sacrilege (11-12) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov.
