held up towards rear, headway after 4th, not fluent 6th, chased winner approaching 2 out, soon no chance, weakened approaching last, lost 2nd last strides
held up in 4th, hit 3rd, 5th when mistake 5th, soon pulled up
led, not fluent 3rd or 6th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, took 2nd close home
chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, led 3 out, clear approaching next, jumped right and not fluent last, eased flat
held up in rear, headway after 4th, went 3rd before next, weakened approaching last
mistake 2nd, always behind, tailed off
ridden in rear 3rd, tailed off 5th, pulled up after 3 out
tracked leader, jumped left and mistake 1st, went left next, lost 2nd after 4th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
MISTER STICKLER is progressing with experience and is taken to double his tally in a race where the four penalised runners are separated by just 4lbs on official figures. William's Wishes and My Shamwari may be the pair to pose most questions. The selection has taken a while to get the hang of things and was well beaten on his previous outing over course and distance but there has been far more encouragement to be taken from his two most recent outings and he looks capable of making further progress. My Shamwari needs to bounce back from a disappointing run in a competitive handicap but he'll be more at home at this level and is clearly well suited by the demands of this track whilst William's Wishes comfortably accounted for a subsequent winner on his return from a winter break and has to be feared. Raquel White may not have the same scope as the aforementioned trio but looks sure to be suited by the demands of this test so enters calculations along with Arctic Ben who looks to have something to find but Mister Stickler is fancied to come out on top.
Mister Stickler (IRE) 13-8 (11-0) Held up in touch, went 2nd 3 out, led next, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Castlerock (10-11) by 1l, 8 ran.
My Shamwari (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway when not clear run after 3 out, ridden and effort to chase leaders next, soon weakened, 12th of 18, 31l behind Red Harbour (10-11) at Sandown 2m 4f Grade 3 nov hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Raquel White 4-1 (11-7) Raced on inside, took keen hold, led after 1st until after 5th, chased leading pair, rallied to modest 2nd just before 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Olympian (11-2) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy.
William's Wishes (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) Made all, clear approaching last, won at Hereford 2m 1f 4yo nov stks (4) gs in Mar beating Mostly Bob (10-11) by 7l, 8 ran.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Took keen hold in rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, went 3rd before last, no real impression on front pair, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Tail Of The Bank (11-12) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
Battlefield Bob (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Led after 1st, headed 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 10th of 14, 43l behind Promising Anshan (10-10) at Southwell 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Just Matty 200-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders and keen, mistake 2nd and saddle slipped, soon pulled up, in a race won by Quatro Pierji (11-0) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar, 13 ran.
Key Partners (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Always in the rear, 10th of 15, 47l behind Missis Potts (10-9) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Apr '07.
