prominent, led 7th until approaching next, weakened 3 out, tailed off
prominent, led approaching 8th, headed next, weakened approaching 2 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
towards rear, mistake 4th, slightly hampered 9th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure, nearest finish
in touch, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, struggling after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
led, mistake 2nd, headed approaching 5th, stopped quickly, pulled up before next
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
in touch, ridden after 7th, weakened next, hampered 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent, chased winner after 3 out, no impression from 2 out
chased leader, led approaching 5th, hit and headed 7th, led briefly before next, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, headway after 4th, led 9th, drew clear from 2 out, stayed on well
mid-division, not always fluent, badly hampered 9th, no headway
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, no impression
mid-division, reminder after 7th, never on terms
always in rear, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 8th, blundered badly 9th, not recover
A real minefield for punters with plenty of disappointing types on show, but token preference is for SONA SASTA ahead of Rebecca's Choice and the frustrating Ramvaswani. Our selection is a point-to-point winner and despite having shown precious little in maiden and novice hurdles we're prepared to give the gelding an each-way chance here, with the step up to three miles and a furlong and soft ground hopefully set to bring about some improvement. It will be interesting to see which way this one goes in the market, racing off a lowly perch of 93, but without that guide our preference is only marginal. Rebecca's Choice is similarly unexposed having had just the eight starts and he went close to breaking his duck over shorter last time. That staying-on effort suggested better was to come from Mark Rimmell's horse and although a 7lb rise in the weights makes life harder it may just be that he's getting the hang of things, so with Peter Toole up he makes plenty of appeal in a race that will take little winning. Ramvaswani merits respect as he arrives in form but a record of 48 starts and zero wins tempers enthusiasm somewhat and perhaps the gelding will have to settle for minor honours once more. Placed off this mark last time, he should at least relish conditions and will doubtless be staying on to good effect past beaten horses, but as such a long-standing maiden we simply cannot put him forward as the selection. There are plenty others with chances in this wide-open heat, with the best of them possibly top weight Cash For Honours. Ian Williams' six-year-old has plenty of solid looking placed form off this sort of mark and his jockey's claim helps lighten the load too. Barrys Ark has at least won races and will stay this trip comfortably but as an 11-year-old he might find one or two too good and similar comments apply to Merry Music whose sole win came five years ago, although this one ran well back from a break last time and could figure if building on that. Deep Reflection won well on his penultimate start and could take a hand in the finish if bouncing back from a disappointing run since, whilst Finlay hasn't had many chances and has been given a feasible rating and El Batal needs a market check returning from an absence.
Cash For Honours 9-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, outpaced 4 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Winterwood (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Deep Reflection 7-2 (10-10) Tracked leader until ridden 2 out, driven and weakened approaching last, 6th of 13, 26l behind Shadow Dancer (11-11) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Treasury Counsel (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, weakened approaching 3 out, last of 5, 47l behind Classic Chic (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f 4yo clm hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Holmwood Legend 40-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway 2nd, chased leader next until after 5th, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 11, 26l behind Strategic Approach (11-0) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (4yo+) (4) hvy.
Chico Time (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, reminders and pushed along after 4th, no impression from 4 out, 6th of 8, 16l behind Ayemdee (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Finlay 5-1 (10-12) Led to before 2 out, weakened between last 2, lost 3rd after last, 4th of 9, 25l behind King Fontaine (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft.
El Batal (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) In touch, went 3rd approaching 4 out, outpaced next, rallied before next, upsides last, soon led and quickened clear, won at Plumpton 3m 2f 5yo nov hcp (4) gf in May '08 beating Earcomesannie (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Quillygham (FR) 7-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, hit 2nd, blundered 9th, mistake 12th, struggling when blundered 14th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Pelo Du Bief (10-0) at Southwell 3m hcp 0-100 (4) gf in Nov, 9 ran.
Bring It On Home 17-2 (11-2) Held up, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 9, 21l behind Mister Marker (11-8) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Kathleens Pride (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, mistakes 8th and 9th, headway 14th, every chance last, led flat, ran on, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec '07 beating Obaki de Grissay (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Not For Diamonds (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, stumbled 12th, jumped badly left next, losing place when not much room and blundered badly 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Fine Parchment (11-2) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Ramvaswani (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, one pace, 2nd of 18, 4l behind Captain Smoothy (10-3) at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) sft.
Rebeccas Choice (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led before next, soon hard pressed, kept on until ridden and headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Petroglyph (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Sona Sasta (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 24l behind Carrickboy (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Barrys Ark (IRE) 5-1fav (9-11) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, soon led, headed approaching last, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Tarateeno (10-10) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov.
Merry Music (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, driven along approaching 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd soon after but no chance with front pair, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Callerlilly (11-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Le Briar Soul (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Always in rear, pulled up after 13th, in a race won by Mr Big (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Earcomesthedream (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, ridden and one pace approaching last, 5th of 18, 20l behind King Stanley (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
