held up in rear, headway 6th, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, driven along after 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out
tracked leaders, led after 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, not fluent last and under pressure, driven out
led, headed after 6th, reminders approaching next, soon weakened, tailed off from 3 out
held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened from next
tracked leaders, pushed along 6th, soon weakened
held up towards rear, driven along after 5th, pulled up before next
held up, headway after 4 out, chased winner from 2 out, every chance last, ran on
always behind, struggling when pulled up before 6th
Sheer Guts, Joe Brown and Nobody's Perfect are the three to ponder over here in an intriguing finale, and preference is for Sheer Guts. Sheer Guts is in excellent form, having won three of his last six starts and enjoys testing conditions. He also likes the track and seems to be progressing. It will take a good one to beat him. Heather Dalton has an excellent strike rate at the moment and her Joe Brown has to go on the shortlist. He ran his best race to date when finishing second at Wetherby last time, only headed in the last fifty yards. The mare Nobody's Perfect has threatened to win a race for Ferdy Murphy and has been placed in half her ten starts. She seems to fade in the closing stages and this testing ground may find her out. Sheer Guts can prove too tough for his rivals.
Why The Long Face (NZ) 40-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, went 2nd next, soon ridden, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 17, 12l behind Wild Is The Wind (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) hvy in Oct.
Sheer Guts (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Set steady pace, headed between last 2, switched right approaching last, rallied to lead again flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f sll hdl (G) sft in Nov beating Alpha Juliet (10-0) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Lutin du Moulin (FR) 9-2co-fav (11-3) Not travelling well in last place until pulled up at the 7th in race won by Blunham Hill (10-7) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Joe Brown 9-2fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway 8th, led after 4 out, ridden next hit 2 out, headed close home, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Spectested (11-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) sft in Dec.
Infini (FR) 33-1 (10-11) With leaders, not fluent 2nd, led 4th until approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 15, well behind Moustique de L'Isle (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) hvy in Dec.
Miss Pross 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on from next, no impression on leaders, 3rd of 16, 11l behind Aston Lad (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) sft in Dec.
Nobodys Perfect (IRE) 9-2 (10-2) Chased winner until approaching 2 out, left 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Torkinking (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft in Dec.
Primitive Poppy 10-1 (10-7) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders 4 out, soon outpaced, 8th of 13, 37l behind Piraeus (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Dec.
