held up, weakened from 5th
always behind, tailed off from 5th
with leader 1st, tracked leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, weakened 3 out
tracked leader, led 5th, clear approaching last, easily
led to 5th, ridden next, stayed on from last
towards rear, weakened after 4 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner approaching last, weakened run-in
held up, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
towards rear, outpaced 4 out, stayed on from 2 out
mid-division, weakened after 4 out, tailed off from next
In a fairly modest affair, Balmoral Queen can follow up her Uttoxeter win; best of the rest might prove to be Baby Gee and Before The Mast. The selection relished the heavy going at Uttoxeter and, with fairly similar conditions applying - and given that she is racing off the same mark as for that conditional jockeys' event success - she looks to hold solid-enough claims. Baby Gee is just a pound below his Catterick winning mark of January 2004 and, much as recent efforts need building upon, he has proven that he can act on the going. Irish import Bonnell will need to step up on his British debut if he is to feature, while Polar Gunner is very well-handicapped based on his chasing form, which includes a recent win from a mark that is 26 pounds higher than today's. However, his hurdling form, as you can imagine, is not quite so good. Gospel Song would hold a very good chance based on April form but more-recent efforts have been modest. Finally, Truckle is a possible improver on his handicap debut, but Before The Mast looks held by the selection on Uttoxeter form, although he is not ruled out of a place. Once again, the vote goes to Balmoral Queen.
Peter's Imp (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) 4th when fell at the 3rd in race won by Mocharamor (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chs (E) gd in Aug, 9 ran.
Prairie Law (GER) 25-1 (11-12) In touch, slightly outpaced 6th, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd post, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Balmoral Queen (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (F) hvy in Dec.
Bonnell (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden to chase winner 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 16, 20l behind Ask The Umpire (11-12) at Towcester 2m 3f amt hcp hdl (5) sft.
Polar Gunner 7-1 (11-1) Made most, ridden 3f out, headed briefly flat, all out, won at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov beating Super Nomad (11-9) by a nk, 10 ran.
Gospel Song 50-1 (10-4) Led, headed before 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 11th of 23, 33l behind Topanberry (11-9) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Dec.
Before The Mast (IRE) 2-1fav (10-2) Held up behind leaders, chased leading pair before last, no impression and lost moderate 3rd last stride, 4th of 6, 16l behind Isam Top (10-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy.
Truckle 3-1 (10-12) Led to 4th, hit 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching next, 6th of 16, 28l behind Goldstar Dancer (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3yo nov hdl (C) gd in Nov.
Balmoral Queen 50-1 (10-4) Held up, headway6th, led 3 out, mistake 2 out, drew clear flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (F) hvy in Dec beating Prairie Law (11-12) by 8l, 13 ran.
