held up towards rear, some headway 3 out, soon ridden, jumped right last, kept on flat
prominent, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 5th
prominent, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, kept on flat, no chance with winner
made all, clear 3 out, 15 lengths clear and ridden 2 out, finished tired, unchallenged
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
chased leader, ridden in 2nd when hampered badly 3 out, not recover, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden, weakening when fell 3 out
held up last, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden 3 out, stayed on from 2 out
Desert Quest gets a very solid shout here, with L'Oudon and Bishops Bridge possibly rating as his main dangers. The Paul Nicholls-trained selection looks to hold very decent claims in this handicap and looks the stronger Paul Nicholls entry on jockey bookings. A good second to Motorway two runs ago, he followed that up with a good Taunton win. With Motorway having scored off 110 at Newbury at the weekend, Desert Quest has the look of a well-handicapped and improving horse. Nicholls' other runner, L'Oudon is given a chance as he was held in high regard last season and although not building on his Newbury win, he was subsequently tried in much stiffer company and this level will suit better. Bishops Bridge is also on the up, having won his last two, but, much as he is respected, he needs to improve again. Of the others, Foodbroker Founder is surely better than his well-backed run at Windsor might suggest, and The Local, who the handicapper seems to have got just about right, was ahead of him on that occasion, while Barton Park caused a 100/1 shock here last time and, while he has clearly been hiding his light under a bushel, more will be needed today. Finally, Shaman has won from a higher mark, but that was back in January 2004 and he is not one to trust implicitly. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Desert Quest.
L'oudon (FR) 13-2 (11-3) Held up, lost touch and struggling from 5th, 6th of 8, 33l behind Admiral (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4yo nov hdl (B) gd in Apr.
Charlton Kings (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, 4th and weakening when fell at the last in race won by Daryal (11-10) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Desert Quest (IRE) 8-11fav (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway after 6th, led and hit 2 out, pushed clear last, easily, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (D) frm in Oct beating Prideoftheyankees (10-12) by 14l, 12 ran.
Latin Queen (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 7th to 4 out, weakening when blundered next, 6th of 11, well behind By Degree (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) hvy in Nov.
Bishop's Bridge (IRE) 4-7fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, headway to lead approaching last, pushed out, won at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (E) gf in May beating Mooramana (11-0) by 2l, 6 ran.
The Local 5-1 (11-4) Hit 1st, chased winner, ridden and upsides 2 out, no impression and weakened before last, lost 2nd soon after, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Priors Dale (11-12) at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Nov.
Fame 10-1 (11-10) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 4th of 9, 8l behind Into The Shadows (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Nov.
Ilabon (FR) 8-11fav (11-10) Held up rear, rapid headway from 7th, ridden to lead approaching 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra, 2nd of 12, 8l behind Noble Calling (11-6) at Exeter 2m 6f amt nov hdl (F) gf in Apr '04.
Montevideo 6-1 (11-5) Always behind, 14th of 24, 46l behind Water King (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (E) gs in Nov.
Kildee Lass 5-4fav (10-13) Held up, jumped right 4th, mistake 7th, headway 9th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 25l behind Avas Delight (11-6) at Hereford 2m nov chs (E) gf in Oct.
Hatch A Plan (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Rear division, mistake 3rd, well behind when mistake 3 out, last of 11, well behind Priors Dale (11-12) at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Nov.
Shaman 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway to go 3rd at the 6th, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Critical Stage (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f clm hdl (F) gs in Nov.
Westernmost 20-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 29l behind Sunnyarjun (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Nov.
Foodbroker Founder 3-1fav (11-7) Chased leaders until mistake and lost place 5th, soon well behind, 6th of 11, 21l behind Priors Dale (11-12) at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Nov.
Barton Park 100-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, good headway 5th, still going well and every chance when left clear last, ran on, won at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Nov beating Foxtrot Yankee (10-9) by 11l, 14 ran.
