tracked leader, hit 5th, led before next, ridden and headed 2 out, lost place and eased before last
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, wandered after 2 out, led last, ridden out
in touch on outside, closed after 5th, losing place when blundered and rider lost iron 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, tracking leaders last, stayed on same pace flat
held up in rear, headway from 3 out, tracking leaders last, stayed on same pace flat
tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, lost place before 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, took keen hold, improved into mid-division after 4th, closed 3 out, weakened approaching last
led, not fluent 4th, headed approaching 6th, weakened before last
held up towards rear, ridden after 6th, headway 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent and lost place 4th, rallied before 3 out, every chance flat, unable to quicken towards finish
A low-grade opener but nevertheless a contest featuring a number of potentially unexposed sorts, notably Confide In Me. Jim Best gave his new charge a pipe-opener on the level 38 days ago and significant market support should be taken very seriously. Similar comments apply to the lightly-raced Charles who is probably far better than recent form figures indicate. However, the vote goes to SECRET DESERT, who looks to have been prepared for a spring campaign by Ferdy Murphy and would go close if reproducing his decent fourth at Sedgefield in November. Tiger Dream is another for the shortlist.
Top Achiever (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Chased leaders until ridden after 5th, weakened after next, mistake 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, 38l behind Quipe Me Posted (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Charles 66-1 (11-2) Took keen hold in mid-division, mistake 2nd, weakened 3 out, 8th of 13, 32l behind Gibb River (11-12) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Tiger Dream 5-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led 5th, ridden clear after 2 out, 4 lengths advantage last, hung badly right under pressure flat, headed near finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Diddley Dee (11-5) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Secret Desert 16-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 12, well behind Night In Milan (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Jan.
Echo Dancer 40-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, ridden and effort after next, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 10th of 15, 47l behind Galantos (10-11) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Confide In Me 16-1 (11-0) Held up in 4th, hit 6th, kept on same pace from 3 out, lost modest 4th near finish, 5th of 11, 25l behind Via Galilei (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Apr '10.
Stanley Bridge 22-1 (9-9) Always in rear, 6th of 7, 26l behind Lady Bluesky (11-3) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Mar.
Youandme (IRE) 150-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, behind from 10th, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Phidippides (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Daraybad (FR) 33-1 (11-1) In touch, weakened from 5th, 8th of 9, well behind Wake Board (10-5) at Catterick 2m sell hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Miss Champagne (IRE) 15-2 (10-0) Held up in touch, chased leaders after 3 out, soon chasing winner, until ridden before last, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Just Maddie (10-6) at Catterick 2m mrs nov hcp hdl (0-95) (5) gs in Feb.
Terra Bleu (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Not fluent 1st, soon in rear, mistake 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Kayef (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
