A dire contest in which Don't Ask Me gets a reluctant nomination. The selection has won here at the course and with his yard in very good form, he could be worth chancing today. He was a fairly distant second last time out at Folkestone, however he was giving lumps of weight away to the winner that day and ran quite well considering. Too Posh To Share runs off a low weight here and a repeat of his last run when runner-up at Towcester could easily be good enough to win today. Indian Star has a fair record in these contests and should again go well, whilst Caliban is a course and distance winner so he too goes on the shortlist. Perky Peaks is relatively unexposed but appears to be average at best, so therefore for the winner we tentatively return to Don't Ask Me.
Don't Ask Me (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) In touch, effort 5th, disputed lead 2 out, weakened approaching last, 2nd of 9, 22l behind Aqua Pura (10-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Argento 100-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway 5th, mistake 6th, tailed off 3 out, 19th of 20, well behind After Midnight (9-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Boulevin (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Always behind, 11th of 16, 23l behind Mount Benger (10-9) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Caliban (IRE) 100-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out, 9th of 13, well behind Sunisa (10-2) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Hi Laurie (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Held up, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Negus de Beaumont (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Indian Star (GER) 9-2 (10-10) Held up, headway 7th, chased leader 3 out until 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 8, 9l behind High Hope (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f clm hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Mighty Fine 50-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon one pace when hampered last, 6th of 17, 11l behind Bogus Dreams (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Neptune Joly (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Always behind, 7th of 8, 28l behind Ben Britten (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Perky Peaks (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, weakened after 5th, plugged on, 3rd of 10, well behind City of Manchester (11-5) at Hereford 2m 1f sll hdl (5) hvy in Nov.
Porak (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off from 4th, 15th of 20, well behind Kickahead (11-0) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Spiritual Dancer (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Anshabil (11-9) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft, 17 ran.
Grand Girl 66-1 (9-12) Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 19, 28l behind Uhuru Peak (10-13) at Redcar 6f amt hcp 0-60 (6) gf in May '05 (Flat).
Too Posh To Share 20-1 (9-9) Behind, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Aberdeen Park (10-5) at Towcester 2m sll hdl (5) gs in Nov.
