held up in rear, headway to 6th, challenged 3 out, hung left, one pace flat
held up towards rear, driven along after 7th, soon weakened
tracked leader until squeezed out approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, effort on outside after 6th, driven and weakened after next
raced keenly, tracked leaders, led 3 out, wandered slightly approaching 2 out, driven and stayed on well flat
led, hit 6th, hit 3 out, headed, weakened 2 out
jumped big early, chased leaders, jumped slowly 6th, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway on inside from 7th, not much room on bend before 3 out, 2 length 3rd when not fluent last, no extra flat
Rapid Increase can follow up on his Plumpton win and land this with a penalty at the expense of Plein Pouvoir and Whiteoak. The selection looked a class above his rivals when scoring on his race course debut at Plumpton last month. He jumped well and looks a horse to follow through the ranks. If putting in a clear round he can follow up with ease. Plein Pouvoir looks interesting on his debut. His trainer has had a poor start to the season but Venetia Williams did have her first win for over six months earlier in the week which might see her fortunes change for the better. Whiteoak has race experience on his side having won a bumper and performing well to finish a close second to Nez Rouge at Bangor on his hurdles debut. That was his seasonal reappearence and with that run under his belt he is entitled to strip fitter this time around so is worth noting in the market. But for the winner we return to Rapid Increase.
Rapid Increase (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, led flat, pushed out, comfortably, won at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct beating Soulard (11-0) by 3l, 14 ran.
Leyte Gulf (USA) (8-9) Some late headway, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Ballymaloe (8-10) at La Teste De Buch 1m 1f hcp in Jun (Flat).
Magic Clover (ARG) 9-4fav (11-0) Hampered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Melvino (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) frm, 9 ran.
Red Wharf Bay 12-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway over 5f out, ridden to chase leaders over 3f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 16, 16l behind The Apprentice (10-13) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gd.
Sir Harry Ormesher 40-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, with leaders, weakened 4f out, 22nd of 24, well behind Cork All Star (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m nhf Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Sir Monty (USA) 2-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake and weakened 3 out, 6th of 11, 28l behind Flaming Weapon (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gs in Oct '05.
Snake Charmer 1-5fav (10-12) Led halfway, easily, won at Dortmund 1m4f110yd Amts hcp beating Argar (8-9) by 8l, 8 ran (Flat).
Whiteoak (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, led when jumped right 2 out, ridden when jumped badly right last, headed near finish, 2nd of 10, shd behind Nez Rouge (10-7) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) Maresca Sorrento gelding out of Dellerie.
Speedy Directa (GER) (8-12) 2nd of 10, 7l behind Toselli (8-0) at Mulheim 1m 4f hcp hvy in Nov (Flat).
