in touch, led before 9th, drew clear after 3 out, driven out
in touch, driven and lost place 7th, soon struggling, ridden before 2 out, stayed on strongly under pressure flat, never near leaders
mid-division, headway and in touch 6th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on from last, no impression
with leader, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, lost 2nd near finish
in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
led to after 1st, chased leaders, reminders and lost place 6th, soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led after 1st, headed before 9th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
behind, struggling 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
soon in touch, effort approaching 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened after next
behind, struggling 10th, headway under pressure 3 out, 4th next, stayed on strongly from last to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
held up, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened next
Nonrunner
This will be the biggest stamina test of the afternoon and we need to be looking towards the lower weights, so with that in mind we'll suggest a shortlist of Polobury, Quay Meadow and ZAFFIE PARSON, with the last named getting our support. She has won over course and distance and in the same testing conditions, albeit a while ago. Polobury can handle the ground, but there'd be a question mark about the trip, having only once raced at three miles. Quay Meadow and our pick were first and second over a slightly shorter trip last time out in soft conditions, but they're off level weights today. Tastes Like More has shown ability in heavy ground, but is the joint top weight; having a seven pound claimer on board will help but may not be enough. We think it's going to be a real slog, and emerging victorious could well be Zaffie Parson.
Minella Boys (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Mid-division until weakened approaching 4 out, 9th of 18, well behind Heathcliff (10-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Tastes Like More (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) In touch, led 11th, clear after 2 out, easy, won at Hereford 3m 2f sll hdl (5) gs in Dec beating Rajam (11-4) by 13l, 10 ran.
Bobtante (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, lost place from 3rd, 8th of 11, well behind Benfleet Boy (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Led, headed 3 out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Royal Mackintosh (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Capybara (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Led to 7th, weakened 3 out, 12th of 15, well behind Festival King (10-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Skenfrith 20-1 (10-0) Led to 5th, pushed along approaching 10th, soon lost place, tailed off., 4th of 9, 37l behind King Barry (11-12) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Leo Tolstoy 150-1 (10-13) In touch to 4 out, soon beaten, 5th of 11, 48l behind Prince De Beauchene (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft.
Luzenie (FR) 100-1 (10-5) Held up, ridden 4 out, never dangerous, 9th of 14, well behind Circus Rose (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Quay Meadow (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, prominent approaching 7th, led approaching last, driven out, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec beating Zaffie Parson (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Zaffie Parson (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up, ridden approaching 3 out, soon headway, stayed on to take 2nd flat, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Quay Meadow (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Polobury 4-1jt-fav (10-0) In rear, outpaced after 5th and pushed along, headway from 3 out, every chance flat, just held near finish, 2nd of 10, hd behind Soul Angel (10-11) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Shulmin 8-1 (11-4) Behind, smooth headway from 14th, chased leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 4th of 10, 11l behind Smart Thinker (9-11) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Michaels Dream (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Twelve Paces (9-8) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 13 ran.
Hever Road (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, raced wide, led 7th, hit next, ridden, saddle slipped approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Forest Miller (11-4) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in May '07.
