chased leaders, ridden to lead after 2 out, headed last, ran on
mid-division, headway 6th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened flat
always towards rear
in touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
with leader, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, soon weakened
led, hung left 3rd, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders to 3 out, beaten when mistake 2 out
hit 2nd, always behind
held up, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to lead last, ran on
The key players here seem to be Nick The Silver, Sheer Guts, Zadok The Priest and Banningham Blaze, with the vote given to Sheer Guts. Sheer Guts has won twice at this level at this track, albeit it over a shorter trip, and comes into this race in good heart following a Fontwell win. He should be ok at the trip and can go well. There is no doubt that Nick The Silver has the ability to win from his current mark, although his form tailed off following a win and a second in January. Tried over further last time, you would be banking on his rediscovering his spark before supporting him today. That's possible but not guaranteed. Zadok The Priest's novice hurdle form would give him some sort of hope, although he has failed to build on it in his last three races, including at this level, and Zeloso has not run over hurdles for two-and-a-half years. Banningham Blaze showed enough over hurdles in 2004 to suggest that she can be a player today, and her Uttoxeter run over a longer trip last time was probably a pipe-opener. Finally, Regulated has not built on his 2004 Flat win, while Gold For Me holds possibilities dropped to this grade for the first time. However, for the selection, we return to Sheer Guts.
Nick The Silver 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 5th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 12, well behind Wise Tale (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Sept.
Sheer Guts (IRE) 3-1fav (12-4) Mid-division, ridden and headway 3f out, one pace from 2f out, 6th of 8, 22l behind Distant Romance (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f cnd sll hcp hdl (G) gd.
Gold For Me (FR) 20-1 (10-7) Mid-division, behind from 5th, 10th of 12, 49l behind United Spirit (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (E) gf in Sept.
Regulated (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Prominent, reminder 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 7, well behind Miss Merenda (10-3) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (E) gf in Sept.
Relative Hero (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, under pressure from 6th, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 11, 30l behind Shamsan (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f cnd sll hdl (G) gf in Aug.
Zadok The Priest (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, pushed along 4th, lost place next, pulled up before 2 out pulled up in race won by Peter's Imp (11-9) at Cartmel 2m 6f cnd sll hcp hdl (G) sft in Aug '04, 7 ran.
Banningham Blaze 20-1 (11-10) Behind, headway 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 9th of 16, 25l behind Wise Tale (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf in Sept.
Zeloso 10-1 (10-2) Behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Ballyvaddy (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Apr '03, 7 ran.
