in touch, ridden over 2f, driven and every chance approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
in touch, ridden over 2f, every chance when edged left approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace
mid-division, effort over 2f out, driven and stayed on towards finish
jumped left at start, soon in touch, effort halfway, weakened over 1f
always rear division
made virtually all, driven 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
soon outpaced and ridden along, never dangerous
towards rear, soon chased along, never troubled leader
chased leaders, driven over 1f, one pace final furlong
chased leaders, ridden along halfway, weakened final furlong
dwelt, soon chasing leaders, effort halfway, weakened over 1f
Nonrunner
GRIMES FAITH is preferred to Night Prospector and Punching. Kevin Ryan's gelding has won two of his four starts at the track and is clearly well suited by the way that races are run here. He goes well with time between his races so his absence is of no concern and he can successfully give the weight away. The ratings are a handy guideline but no more than that as Calmdownmate showed when beaten by two rivals rated in the forties when running a respectable race in a claimer last time. Night Prospector is another who strictly has something to find on these terms but he's an experienced campaigner with track form to his name. Those remarks also apply to Punching who has two seconds from three starts at the track and the switch in surface may enable him to leave a modest performance behind. Support for Babel would bring him off the bench as far as the short-list goes whilst Ice Planet is another worth monitoring but the vote goes the way of Grimes Faith.
Grimes Faith 5-1jt-fav (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Tenancy (9-12) at Musselburgh 5f amt hcp (6) sft in Nov.
Punching 11-4 (9-6) Led, headed 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 16l behind Back In The Red (9-6) at W'hampton 6f 3yo & 4yo sll (6) pol.
Ronnie Howe 33-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, soon chased leaders on outside, ridden and weakened well over 1f out, last of 10, 9l behind Cosmic Destiny (9-4) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Babel 16-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden halfway, never on terms, 12th of 13, 23l behind Charles Parnell (9-2) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Apocalypto (IRE) 66-1 (9-3) In touch until weakened rapidly over 2f out, soon tailed off, last of 14, 41l behind Balata (9-3) at Kempton 7f mdn aut stk (5) pol.
Calmdownmate (IRE) 7-1 (8-9) Prominent, ridden over 2f, driven and kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind She's Our Beauty (8-2) at Southwell 5f clm (6) fbs.
Cape Roberto (IRE) 28-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, 13th of 14, 22l behind Tobar Suil Lady (9-0) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Ice Planet 12-1 (8-4) Held up towards rear, never on terms, 9th of 12, 5l behind Mullein (9-5) at Warwick 6f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Our Acquaintance 5-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, chased winner over 1f out, soon ridden, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Back In The Red (9-6) at W'hampton 6f 3yo & 4yo sll (6) pol.
The Cube 28-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, one pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 9l behind Spic 'n Span (8-12) at Southwell 5f mdn stk (5) fbs.
Minimum Fuss (IRE) 100-1 (7-13) Dwelt, always towards rear, 8th of 10, 15l behind Whinhill House (9-1) at Catterick 5f clm (6) gf in Jul.
Night Prospector 11-1 (9-0) Led 1f, ridden and outpaced halfway, driven and rallied to stay on towards finish, 4th of 12, 1l behind The Geester (8-13) at Southwell 5f hcp (6) fbs in Nov.
