held up in rear, headway 3 out, led soon after next, ridden and ran on
led 2nd, ridden and headed soon after 2 out, stayed on one pace
led, headed 2nd, tracked leader until ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
towards rear, outpaced 6th
raced wide towards rear, pushed along 3 out, hit next, never on terms
in touch towards rear, switched right approaching 3 out, headway and every chance next, ridden and kept on one pace
raced wide, close up, pushed along and outpaced soon after 3 out, rallied to go 4th flat
tracked leaders, hit 3 out, short of room approaching next, weakened flat
Chti Balko doesn’t stand much racing nowadays and was beaten by Hajey at Catterick at the start of the year. HORN CAPE (NAP) steps up a grade after scoring over course and distance last week but escapes a penalty and jack Hogan can utilise his 3lb claim in this. If he has turned over a new leaf, Ben Haslam’s charge will take some stopping. Special Rate has won his last four but the last two have been over fences. However, he was successful at the track off this mark last time so can’t be ignored. Bonne Vitesse has also won at the track but the four-year-old Play By The Rules looks a bigger danger.
Special Rate (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Held up off the pace in 4th, closer before 8th, good headway to lead before 13th, came clear after 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Fils De Roi (11-4) by 14l, 8 ran.
Chti Balko (FR) 15-2 (12-2) Led after 1st, clear briefly 2 out, headed before last, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Blue Shark (11-9) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Hajey 5-1 (10-13) Led, headed 3 out and lost position, soon beaten, pulled up before 2 out, at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Diger Daudaie (FR) 5-1 (10-3) Slowly into stride, jumped slowly, chased leaders, reminder 4th, lost place down back straight, rallied briefly after 8th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Blackjack Kentucky (10-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Punxsutawney Phil (IRE) 18-1 (10-13) Rear of midfield, mistake 7th, dropped to rear 5 out, made no impression from 3 out, 6th of 10, 12l behind Whodini (11-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Horn Cape (FR) 13-2 (12-0) Raced wide, chased leaders until lost place before 2nd, towards rear, good headway tracking leaders after 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, stayed on gamely run-in, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Nov beating For Three (10-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Bonne Vitesse (IRE) 18-1 (9-2) Handy, ridden over 1f out, kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Black Kalanisi (10-1) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Play By The Rules (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Midfield in touch, headway to chase leader 3 out, soon driven, 4 lengths down 2 out where not fluent, kept on run-in, nearest finish, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Executive Pool (10-3) at Hereford 2m hcp (5) gs in Apr.
