mid-division on outside, headway 6th, led approaching, soon clear, easily
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on inside approaching 3 out, no impression, soon weakened
held up, took keen hold, mistake 1st, struggling after 6th, behind when bad mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway 3rd, challenged 3 out, 3rd when jumped left 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed before last, soon beaten, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, headway when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakening when mistake last
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd close home
led, headed 3 out, one pace from 2 out
mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out
mid-division, fell 6th
mid-division, mistake 4th, lost place when hampered 6th
held up, ridden and well beaten approaching 3 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
Several of these have shown enough to suggest they can win a race of this nature but deciding which one will put their best foot forward here is another matter. Shabak Hom was third at Hereford earlier this month but, like Gud Day and Adorabella, looks a little one-paced and would probably prefer a longer trip. Boa appears to be going backwards but Arkaim may be improving and has more scope than a lot of these. GOAT CASTLE has raced four times over the C&D and has yet to finish out of the frame. He is 7lb lower than when third here in December and though returning from a lay-off that is rarely an issue with runners from his yard. He could take advantage of the handicapper's leniency. Next Edition has been in decent form on the Flat but struggles to stay this trip over hurdles and Venture To War may have run out of chances.
Gud Day (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway before 5th, every chance 2 out, not fluent last, not clear run and switched left flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Coffee (11-8) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Prince Freddie 25-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 13, 37l behind Acapulco Bay (10-5) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf in May.
Adorabella (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway on inside 4th, led 3 out, headed next, stayed on same pace flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Porgy (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Lucky Dance (BRZ) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leading pair, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 14, 25l behind Dubai Crest (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar '11.
Boa 8-1 (11-10) Mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 11th of 13, well behind South Stack (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf in Aug.
Shabak Hom (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Led, raced wide, clear after 6th, ridden and headed run-in, lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Phoenix Eye (10-4) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf.
Arkaim 15-2 (10-7) Pulled hard in rear, headway when mistake 2 out, soon beaten, 6th of 11, 8l behind Changing The Guard (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Dundrum Dancer (IRE) 22-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, 11th of 13, well behind Tyrana (10-0) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Aug.
Morocchius (USA) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, challenged before 3 out, no extra flat, 6th of 14, 12l behind Kapdor (10-9) at Worcester 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Aug.
Venture To War (IRE) 7-2fav (10-6) Held up in rear, hit 3rd, mistake 6th, struggling after next, well beaten 3 out, 9th of 12, 46l behind Schinken Otto (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
Goat Castle (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, shaken up after 3rd, weakened 3 out, 11th of 13, 31l behind Dreambrook Lady (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Next Edition (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, outpaced from 4 out, 9th of 15, 41l behind Ginger Grey (11-6) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
So Bazaar (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, hampered 2nd, weakened from 3 out, 9th of 13, 48l behind Snooker (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf.
Mezarat (ITY) 11-2 (10-3) Held up in rear, headway approaching 6th, chased winner before next, soon ridden, no impression when fell last, in a race won by Louis Ludwig (10-9) at Stratford 2m 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Aug, 9 ran.
Middlebrook (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, disputing 2nd after last, no chance with winner, no extra towards finish, 4th of 12, 7l behind Noble Media (10-0) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Aug.
Magnitude 66-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 5th, weakened 2 out, 9th of 14, 25l behind Kapdor (10-9) at Worcester 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Aug.