prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
in rear, ridden and plenty to do 4f out, headway over 2f out, stayed on strongly to press winner final 100 yards
tracked leader, disputed lead from over 4f out, narrow advantage from 2f out, all out
led until narrowly headed 2f out, still every chance inside final furlong, not quicken and lost 2nd final 100 yards
prominent, ridden halfway, weakened over 5f out, tailed off final 2f
held up towards rear, pushed along 6f out, never near leaders
prominent until weakened over 4f out, eased once beaten
in touch, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, headway 6f out, weakened inside final 2f
in touch, ridden and weakened 7f out, tailed off final 2f
in touch, ridden 3f out, one pace final 2f
always behind, tailed off from halfway
held up, headway over 4f out, stayed on same pace final 2f
Although it does not always pay to follow bumper winners out to defy a penalty, Wicked Weasel has the scope to progress and gets the nod over Bonny Grey, Chapel Times and Boardroom Fiddle. Wicked Weasel emerged from the gloom to post a 40-1 shock success at Bangor before Christmas and has not been seen since. He cost connections 41,000gns at the Summer Sales in 2002 and so they have had to be patient with the son of Religiously. With a seven-pound claimer on board to offset the penalty, he is taken to follow up at the expense of the other penalised entry, Bonny Grey. She made up for unseating her rider on her Ludlow debut by winning a run-of-the-mill affair at Worcester ten days ago. The form may not amount to much but she has at least shown us what she can do. Chapel Times, third at Carlisle on her racecourse bow, is by Supreme Leader out of a Strong Gale mare so is impeccably-bred for the winter game. Of the rest, the market may tell us more about the chances of Boardroom Fiddle and Cyrium, but Wicked Weasel makes most appeal.
