held up towards rear, hampered 6th, steady headway before 9th, chased winner going well before 2 out, ridden and lost 2nd last, stayed on same pace flat and retook 2nd towards finish
mid-division, ridden after 9th, headway before 3 out, chased winner last, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish
led, soon clear, fell 2nd
chased leaders, not fluent 6th, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 8th, weakened after next
held up, hampered 6th, headway before next, weakened after 9th, virtually pulled up flat, tailed off
held up in rear, hampered 6th, headway before next, weakening when hit 8th
held up towards rear, headway 5th, chased winner after 6th until approaching 8th, weakened from 2 out, heavily eased flat
mid-division, raced keenly, badly hampered 6th, bumped after 9th, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, tracked winner before 8th until approaching 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden 2 out, soon beaten, weakened last
held up in rear, hampered 6th, mistake 7th, soon pushed along, never in contention
mistakes, in touch early, behind from 7th
chased clear leader until left in lead 2nd, squeezed along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, drifted left after last, stayed on gamely
chased leaders, hampered 2nd, upsides when fell 6th
This looks wide open, with VICTORIAS GROOM heading our shortlist, on which we'd also include The Shoe and Another Brother. The selection has to defy top weight status, but he's not giving too much away to the likely challengers. It's a step up in trip from a recent Lingfield victory, but he was way ahead in that contest. Although regaining some of his early season consistency he's never even been placed at this trip, but the course isn't the most testing and he can end that statistic here. The Shoe is having his third run for Nicky Henderson since coming here after a very successful career in New Zealand. He's yet to land a blow over here, but hopes remain high that he can replicate his form from down under. Another Brother is the only course and distance winner in the field. That success came in October, since when he's had a couple of places, but he may need to drop a grade to be winning again. Peter Bowen's Mumbles Head is an interesting runner after nearly two years off the track. A consistent sort, only out of the frame on two of his 11 runs, if fit following the lay-off would come into calculations, so any market support should be noted. However our preference is for Victorias Groom.
Victorias Groom (GER) 5-2fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd going well well before 2 out, came wide into straight and led 2 out, well clear last, eased near finish, won at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft beating Federstar (10-7) by 14l, 8 ran.
Mumbles Head (IRE) 1-4fav (11-8) Pressed winner, led 3 out, headed flat, no extra, finished lame, 2nd of 6, 3l behind King Barry (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (3) gf in May '07.
Another Brother (IRE) 10-3fav (11-0) Led, ridden, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 14, 9l behind Oscardeal (10-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
The Shoe (NZ) 5-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden into 2nd approaching 2 out, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 24l behind Bouggler (10-4) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
King's Revenge 11-1 (11-6) Prominent, led 5th to 6th, every chance when hit 3 out, weakened flat, 6th of 9, 14l behind Nortonthorpe Lad (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Heraldry (IRE) 15-2 (10-2) Held up in touch, headway 3 out, led approaching last, drew clear flat, eased near finish, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan beating Tighten Your Belt (11-7) by 11l, 8 ran.
Boomerang (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) In touch, hit 1st and fell at the 10th in race won by Aimigayle (10-9) at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Award Winner 25-1 (11-7) Held up, ridden from 6th, plugged on, never on terms, 6th of 13, 40l behind Karabak (11-12) at Ascot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Maktu 17-2 (10-9) Mid-division, headway on inside when mistake 3 out, led approaching last, edged left flat, all out, won at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan beating The Very Man (11-5) by a hd, 12 ran.
Leac An Scail (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Held up, in rear when brought down 4 out in race won by Georgian King (11-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Feb, 9 ran.
South O'The Border 9-2 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, headway under pressure before 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd last, kept on flat, nearest finish, 3rd of 19, 7l behind Cathedral Rock (11-10) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
Bulwark (IRE) 33-1 (9-8) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened approaching last, 7th of 14, 15l behind Synchronised (10-4) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Gold Gun (USA) 14-1 (10-11) In touch, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened soon after, mistake last, 6th of 14, 12l behind Eleazar (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Snake Charmer 15-2 (11-2) Led to 5th, chased leaders to 7th, blundered 3 out, ridden and slightly hampered soon after, weakened before next, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Dont Tell The Wife (10-11) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Sangfroid 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 4l behind Silk Affair (10-8) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Feb.
