held up and raced wide, headway 9th, outpaced after 3 out, rallied 2 out, ran on well flat
held up, headway 9th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened flat
chased leaders, hit 8th, soon ridden, hit 3 out, weakened quickly
held up, headway 9th, ridden after 3 out, weakened last
mid-division, hit 4th, ridden and lost place 7th, soon behind
with leader, led 5th to 3 out, ridden to lead again 2 out, headed last, no extra towards finish
in touch, mistake and reminder 2nd, weakened after 9th
mid-division, headway 8th, outpaced after 3 out, rallied 2 out, led and jumped left last, edged left flat, ran on
mid-division, ridden 9th, weakened next
held up, headway approaching 8th, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened last
led to 5th, ridden approaching 8th, weakening when hit 9th
keen, in touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, outpaced 9th, kept on approaching last
mid-division, headway 9th, ridden after 3 out, one pace flat
mid-division, hit and lost place 3rd, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
The progressive Valley Ride is selected ahead of Mikado and Nine de Sivola. Valley Ride might not be the most straight forward of rides but he has plenty of ability. He scored in facile fashion at Bangor on his most recent start and he evidently appears to have few concerns about his stamina. Mikado looks the type who should improve for the step up in trip. He is a brother to the ex-Micky Hammond runner, Freedom Now, so there is every reason to suggest that he will get the extended three miles. His 10st weight means that Tony McCoy has to ride Hasty Prince. He was never quite top class over two miles and looks difficult to place at present. Nine de Sivola would still have won if Unexplored has have stayed on his feet at Catterick. This is an ambitious step up in grade for him but Ferdy Murphy has made no secret of the regard in which he holds this horse. Be My Royal, Creon and Chives are the veritable Dad's Army in opposition. Korelo ran much better than his finishing position at Cheltenham might suggest. He is in good heart but will probably need the handicapper to give him some leeway before he will be winning again. A decent race in prospect and one in which we nominate Valley Ride to take the first prize.
Korelo (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Held up, ridden and some progress from 3 out, kept on, 6th of 19, 13l behind Attorney General (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (B) gs in Dec.
Hasty Prince 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 14l behind Arcalis (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) sft in Nov.
Hirvine (FR) 40-1 (10-6) Tracked leader, ridden but close up when pulled up 3 out in race won by Attorney General (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (B) gs in Dec, 19 ran.
Valley Ride (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Held up, headway after 7th, led 2 out, ridden when hit last, ran on, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) hvy in Dec beating Just Beth (10-3) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Carlys Quest 66-1 (11-7) Always rear, 6th of 8, 34l behind My Way de Solzen (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
His Nibs (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden 7th, soon weakened, 9th of 12, well behind Pretty Star (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec.
Special Rate (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) In touch, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Lustral Du Seuil (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (D) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Nine De Sivola (FR) 7-4 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, challenging when left in lead and clear last, kept on well, won at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) gd beating Cash King (10-12) by 9l, 10 ran.
Mikado 7-2jt-fav (11-5) In touch, ridden 3 out, chased winner 1 out, ran on flat, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Gallant Approach (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Naos De Mirande (FR) (10-6) 4th of 11, 28l behind Mid Dancer (10-8) at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl gf in Dec.
Irishkawa Bellevue (FR) 5-1 (11-12) With leader, ridden 8th, every chance 3 out, pecked last, kept on well flat, 2nd of 7, nk behind On Y Va (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Nov.
Be My Royal (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Mid-division, driven 13th, hit next, weakened soon after 4 out, 7th of 14, 21l behind Zeta's River (11-2) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Mar.
Chives (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Mistakes, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Ollie Magern (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct, 8 ran.
Dream Falcon 16-1 (10-1) Held up last, ridden 7th, stayed on well from 2 out, took 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Pretty Star (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec.
Creon 50-1 (10-0) Held up, headway 10th, ridden approaching last, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar '04 beating G V A Ireland (10-5) by 1/2l, 24 ran.
