led to 2nd, hampered 3rd, pushed along in rear 10th, weakened 14th, pulled up before 15th
in touch, ridden and one-paced 14th in 3rd, weakened after last
prominent, chased leader 4th, fell 12th
chased leader, led 3rd, fell 4th
prominent, led after 2nd to 3rd, mid-division and pushed along 8th, jumped badly left when weakening 15th, no impression
mid-division, headway and led after 12th, mistake 14th, blundered and headed 15th, led after 4 out, clear 3 out, comfortably
held up towards rear, pushed along 9th, hard ridden and weakened 14th, pulled up after 4 out
led after 3rd to after 12th, led again 15th, headed after 4 out, one-paced
held up last, badly hampered 12th, stayed on to take poor 3rd from last
The Showcase Handicap has produced a very good field of nine runners. Atavistic, who heads the weights, was looking for a third-successive win in this race when third off a mark of 130 (now 129) last year, 11 lengths ahead of Zaggy Lane (also a c/d winner and who is now three pounds worse off at the weights). Atavistic showed he was in good heart by winning on his seasonal comeback two runs ago and is entitled to go well again even if he will not have things all his own way off top weight. Zaggy Lane won this race in 1999 from a mark of 107 (now 109). Storm Damage's highest-rated win came off a mark of 124 (now 129) and is running from the same mark as when finishing placed on his last two runs. It will be no surprise to see him run his usual race. Mr Markham is well treated on his hurdling form but is 6lb higher than for his sole handicap chase win. That will not make life easy for him even if his jumping holds together. Cimarrone Cove has been raised two pounds to a mark of 115 after two decent placed efforts and should now be fully sharp. It will be no surprise to see him go well over this longer trip. Romero has had a month off since falling at Newbury, a track where he recorded a good win over Desailly the time before from a mark of 106 (now 113). He has scope to improve further but is unproven over this trip. Just Maybe has been raised 9lbs for winning at Bangor where Zaggy Lane (now 11lbs better off) was 21 lengths behind him. A winning point-to-pointer, he has scope for further improvement but the rise will not make it easy. Former Hunter Chaser Swincombe is interesting. Representing the excellent combination of Robert Alner and Andrew Thornton, the gelding has run only four times under Rules, winning twice including last time at Wincanton from a mark of 100 (now 111). He is almost certainly progressive and can improve again. Spanish Main is well weighted on his his 2001 form, winning from a mark of 122 (now 110) but his 313-day absence is a problem to overcome. It's a fascinating contest and difficult to be confident about naming the winner but Cimarrone Cove, who could well relish the stamina test, is given as the selection.
