led to 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, mistake 1st and 5th, headway when not fluent 3 out, outpaced 2 out, stayed on flat
held up, headway 7th, led last, ridden out
jumped left, tracked leader, led 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, hung left after 2 out, headed last, one pace flat
tracked leaders, ridden in 4th and 2 lengths down when blundered last, weakened flat
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance when hit 2 out, no extra flat
This looks to be quite trappy but Carthago is narrowly preferred to the most likely dangers Lochiedubs and Young Lorcan. The selection has shown a decent level of form over in France and he looks the percentage call in this modest contest with ground conditions very much in his favour. Lochiedubs should give him the most to think about as he was a decent second last time out behind Go Nomadic at Kelso. However, he is more exposed than our selection and for that reason we will take him on. Young Lorcan has got the form to get competitive in this company but he has not been seen out on the racecourse since March so the percentage call is to oppose him on the basis that he will probably need the run. Foxmeade Dancer looks the best of the remainder but for the winner we will return to the French import Carthago.
Carthago (IRE) 6-5 (12-0) 2nd of 6, 5l behind Coolefind (12-0) at Ashorne 3m ptp gd in May '04.
Spike Jones (NZ) 12-1 (10-12) Jumped badly, pulled hard in rear, driven and headway 7th, weakened quickly approaching 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Dancinginthestreet (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f cnd sll hdl (G) gs.
Young Lorcan 2-1fav (10-6) Held up, headway 8th, blundered and lost place 9th, rallied 13th, close 3rd when unseated rider at the 13th in race won by Hazeljack (10-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Mar, 7 ran.
Lochiedubs 6-1 (11-4) Tracked winner, hit 12th, ridden and one pace when mistake 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Go Nomadic (11-1) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs in Apr.
Foxmeade Dancer 20-1 (10-8) In touch, weakened 5th, 16th of 18, 29l behind The Hairy Lemon (10-13) at Towcester 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Oct.
Upright Ima 16-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 12th of 18, 21l behind The Hairy Lemon (10-13) at Towcester 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Oct.