always towards rear, tailed off over 2f out
in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, one pace
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
in touch, chased leaders over 3f out, one pace final 2f
mid-division, chased leaders over 4f out, one pace from over 1f out
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leader, ridden over 3f out, every chance inside final furlong, held near finish
towards rear, tailed off over 2f out
made all, quickened clear over 2f out, held on well towards finish
An open heat where we will take PUY D'ARNAC to beat Clear Reef, with Il Grande Ardone another to consider. The selection tries the Fibresand for the first time on what looks a decent mark. He stays well and appreciates slow ground on turf, so hopefully that will augur well for today. Alan Swinbank had a winner on Saturday so the yard is in form and we will side with him. Il Grande Ardone outpointed Rawdon here last time and a 6lb rise will make this tougher now, but he is a likeable, genuine sort who may well be able to find more. Even so, Clear Reef probably looks the stronger in opposition. Jane Chapple-Hyam's entire stays every yard of this trip and acts on this track. Dropped 1lb since finishing runner-up last time he has definite claims today. Persian Peril is another Swinbank inmate and unlike the selection the gelding is proven on the track, but he does keep going up in the weights without winning and that won't make his task any easier. Hucking Heat is handicapped to the hilt now, Red Fama is interesting back on this surface and is not ruled out, while Take Me There has also been given a chance on his handicap debut after a win here last time. We can only pick one though and that one is Puy D'Arnac.
Sommersturm (GER) 50-1 (9-9) Steadied start, raced keenly in rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous final 2f, 6th of 9, 8l behind Wine 'n Dine (8-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Clear Reef 7-2 (9-11) Held up in rear, headway well over 1f out, soon ridden to challenge, hung left inside final furlong, kept on well, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Nobelix (9-7) at Great Leighs 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Persian Peril 6-4fav (9-9) Took keen hold in touch, led over 4f out, headed well over 1f out, driven and kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Bavarian Nordic (8-13) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Oct.
Hucking Heat (IRE) 13-2 (8-13) Held up mid-division, chased leaders well over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 6l behind Spectait (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Puy d'Arnac (FR) 3-1 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 12l behind Turban Heights (9-7) at Great Leighs 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Red Fama 15-8fav (9-7) Chased leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Hits Only Vic (10-0) at Haydock 1m 6f hcap (4) hvy in Sept.
Il Grande Ardone 13-2 (8-13) Mid-division, headway over 3f, led well over 1f, driven and kept on gamely final furlong, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec beating Rawdon (9-5) by a shd, 10 ran.
Take Me There 11-4 (9-7) Prominent, ridden along over 3f out, led 2f out, ran on final furlong, won at Southwell 1m 3f mdn stk (5) fbs in Dec beating Wing Diva (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Barawin (IRE) 16-1 (8-5) Led, driven and quickened over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 4, 9l behind La Estrella (9-13) at Great Leighs 1m 5f clm (6) pol.
River Ardeche 66-1 (9-0) Led 1f, chased leader, led over 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, not quicken close home, 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind El Diego (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Friends Hope 14-1 (9-4) Dwelt, in touch, ridden over 2f out, driven, one pace final furlong, 5th of 6, 4l behind Mozayada (9-4) at Southwell 1m fll hcp (4) fbs.
