chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, kept on strongly
held up, fell 1st
chased leaders, challenged 7th, went 2nd 7th until approaching 2 out, 2nd again soon after, kept on same pace
chased leader until 5th, chased leaders, 2nd again 7th, led after 4 out, headed and weakened 2 out
led, ridden after 6th, headed approaching next where mistake, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
in touch in 5th, outpaced before 6th, went remote 4th 3 out
behind, reminders after 2nd, lost touch 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 7th
American Tom is quite clearly not as good as a handicap mark of 124 would suggest but Richard Johnson does ride for the first time since the eight-year-old switched to Olly Murphy. Carrigmoorna Matt only beaten Ardera Cross half-a-length at Stratford, with American Tom fourth, and is 6lb worse off. RAINY CITY would need a fast pace over this trip but drops into a seller for the first time and would have every chance on runs at Catterick and Musselburgh around the turn of the year.
Carrigmoorna Matt (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along in remote 4th 3 out, still plenty to do turning in, soon ridden and rallied, went 2nd and 3 lengths down last, stayed on to challenge flat, led towards finish, won at Stratford 2m 3f (5) gd in Mar beating Ardera Cross (11-7) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
American Tom (FR) 5-4fav (11-1) Led, mistake 4 out, ridden after 2 out, headed turning in, no extra before last, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 10l behind Carrigmoorna Matt (11-7) at Stratford 2m 3f (5) gd in Mar.
Ardera Cross (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led turning in, driven 3 lengths clear last, soon ridden, joined flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Carrigmoorna Matt (11-7) at Stratford 2m 3f (5) gd in Mar.
Oscar Hoof (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden and weakened between last 2, 6th of 12, 21 1/4l behind Dorking Cock (11-4) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Rainy City (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 31 1/2l behind Some Can Dance (11-0) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Donnas Dream (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, hit next and reminder, hampered 4 out, soon well beaten, 4th of 7, 37l behind Yeats Baby (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Leannes Lady (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd and in rear, lost place before 4f out, last of 3, dist behind Snow Wind (9-3) at Chester 1m 4f fll stks (4) gf in Jul.
