led, ridden and headed 3f out, driven and kept on same pace final 2f
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon beaten
behind, ridden along and headway on outer over 3f out, never reached challenging position
held up behind leaders, ridden along 3f out, driven and one pace final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
prominent, pushed along when outpaced halfway, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong
towards rear and soon chased along, never dangerous
tracked leader, led 3f out, clear over 1f out, pushed out easily
prominent, ridden along over 3f out, weakened final furlong
A tough finale for punters where several can be given chances, but it is recent winner Jord who gets the vote over fellow course and distance winners Dado Mush and Boundless Prospect. The selection represents Alan McCabe who has his stable in top form at present. The selection won convincingly over the mile trip just six days ago and if in the same frame of mind then a 6lb penalty is unlikely to be enough to stop a follow-up win. If he fails in his bid for a third course win, then it may be Dado Mush who can take advantage. He was an easy winner at the track recently but his strike-rate is hardly exemplary and he needs to prove that that was no fluke. Oakbridge is another recent winner but this looks tougher, whilst Waterloo Corner and Star Of The Desert are both consistent and have place claims at least. Boundless Prospect and Red Contact are both able but neither has been in red-hot form of late, so whilst Komreyev Star rates a player based on his recent second (races from 6lbs out of the weights here), it is Jord who receives the nomination.
Jord (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Made all, driven and ran on final furlong, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs beating Crow's Nest Lad (8-9) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Red Contact (USA) 9-2 (9-5) Always prominent, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Jord (9-0) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
Boundless Prospect (USA) 7-2 (8-11) Prominent until ridden and weakened over 2f out, 4th of 7, 16l behind Kabeer (8-12) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Very Well Red 13-2 (9-3) Held up, some headway under pressure over 1f out, never dangerous, 5th of 9, 7l behind Jord (9-0) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
Oakbridge (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) Held up, headway 4f out, led over 2f out, soon drew clear, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Feb beating Over To You Bert (8-3) by 8l, 12 ran.
Waterloo Corner 16-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace from 1f out, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Confidentiality (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Star of The Desert (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Led, headed over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, beaten over 1f out, 5th of 8, 8l behind Confidentiality (9-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Dado Mush 28-1 (8-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, ran on final furlong, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs beating Ours (8-10) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Komreyev Star 9-2jt-fav (8-8) Chased leaders, led over 3f out, ridden and headed well over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Beck (8-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol.
Boogie Magic 20-1 (8-12) Soon outpaced, 9th of 14, 15l behind California Laws (9-1) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jul '06.
