held up, ridden after 3rd, weakened before 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, lost place after 3rd, weakened before next
mid-division, ridden 4th, outpaced approaching 3 out, no real impression
held up, headway 4th, not fluent 3 out, led briefly approaching 2 out, not fluent 2 out, soon beaten, jumped right last
prominent, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, jumped right last
chased leader, led approaching 3 out, soon ridden, headed before 2 out, weakened well before last
led, ridden, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up, not fluent 3rd, headway when jumped slowly next, led approaching 2 out, clear last, stayed on well
not fluent, soon behind, tailed off, pulled up before 4th
took keen hold in mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden, weakened after 4th
Not too many horses in form here so it may pay to stick with one who is so we will side with Star Double to continue his good form, with Paddy's Tern and Hot Zone looking best of the rest. The selection won in determined fashion 19 days ago at Warwick, and it is assumed that he will attempt to make all again today. He has a 9lb rise in the weights to overcome, however this looks a weak race and he must have a good chance of going in again on ground that he likes. Hot Zone represents a powerful and in-form stable so must be shortlisted, however he will need to step up on previous efforts to trouble the judge today. Having said that this is his handicap debut so if the money comes take note as he may be on a lenient mark. Paddy's Tern fell last time out in the race won by the selection. He was still in with every chance when he departed, however he may be seen to a better effect on better ground than today's so for that reason is passed over. At a price Ever Special could go well as he is gradually sliding down the handicap, however we will stick with the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Star Double as our tentative selection.
Gilo 20-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, lost 2nd and weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Shardakhan (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
Star Double (ITY) 7-1 (11-5) Made all, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on and not fluent last, won at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan beating Florazine (10-2) by 3l, 12 ran.
Hot Zone (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Close up, jumped slow 1st, hit 4th, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Manhattan Boy (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Green 'n' Gold 9-1 (11-8) In touch, led briefly before 5th, soon lost place, weakened 3 out, 9th of 10, well behind Highland Games (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
City of Manchester (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden approaching 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Young Dancer (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
Ever Special (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Chased winner, ridden 7th, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 45l behind Franco (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Paddy's Tern 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, close up when fell 4 out in race won by Star Double (11-5) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
Acknowledgement 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, jumped slowly 2nd, behind from 7th, tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind Joaaci (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
