tracked leaders, effort to chase leader briefly before 2 out, soon beaten, modest 4th and weakening when pulled up between last 2
not fluent 1st, pressed leader, reminders after 9th, led 13th, headed before 3 out, weakened from next, left modest 4th between last 2
tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, behind from next
led to 13th, close up, regained lead before 3 out, ridden before next, headed between last 2, no impression with front pair before last
detatched in rear, headway on outside 4 out, ridden after next, chased winner before last, kept on same pace, well held flat
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, went 2nd next, led between last 2, soon ridden, stayed on well
Verko's winning run came to an end at Catterick at the end of December but he's been given a few weeks to recover and is back over a more suitable distance today. He can't be ignored, despite looking a few pounds too high, while Bennys Well may have also benefited from a break. No Through Road is only a pound higher than when last successful but he's been well below par lately and Court Dismissed has proved difficult to place. Edmund hasn't run in almost a year but has won here on soft going. MY FRIEND GEORGE is a dual course winner and, though still looking a shade high in the weights, should make a bold bid to score again with doubts surrounding most of the others.
Edmund (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 10th, weakened last, 5th of 8, 28 1/4l behind William Money (10-13) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Court Dismissed (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Prominent, under pressure 4 out, stayed on to go 2nd approachuing last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 28l behind Ballyadeen (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
No Through Road 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 5th until 4 out, not fluent next, no impression when lost 2nd well before 2 out, poor 3rd when pulled up before last, at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Bennys Well (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Led until 2nd, prominent, reminder 7th, mistake and weakened 11th, 4th of 7, 37l behind Friendly Royal (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Verko (FR) 9-1 (11-6) Behind, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders next, no extra approaching last, 4th of 13, 7 1/4l behind Gonalston Cloud (10-8) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
My Friend George 14-1 (10-6) Towards rear, headway before 5 out, ridden before 3 out, no impression, 5th of 10, 24 3/4l behind Art Lord (10-12) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
