made all, stayed on strongly to draw clear from 2 out, comfortably
prominent, ridden after 8th, hit 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
chased leaders until dropped rear after 7th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, effort after 3 out, weakened after 2 out, mistake last
held up, hit 7th, headway 3 out, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, soon held
took keen hold, held up, headway from 3 out, 4th and held when mistake 2 out, weakened
Quarry Town is selected just ahead of Cryptic and Ocean Du Moulin in a race where only Rudivale is ruled out. Sharajan has something to prove after a lacklustre run last time whilst Earth Planet appears to be his yard's second string. Or Sing About posted a vastly improved performance in an Ascot handicap last time but looks to have more on his plate here. Ocean Du Moulin looked booked for second when falling at Kempton last time; the winner hasn't gone on but the form of the race still looks pretty decent and he's an obvious threat. Cryptic also came unstuck in handicap company last time but lost little caste in defeat on very testing ground and he should make a bold bid to get back to winning ways providing that tough race hasn't left its mark. Quarry Town has been brought along steadily but that approach has reaped dividends as the gelding has really come into his own of late. He'll need to take another step forwards to take this prize but impressed in the manner of his victory last time and Quarry Town may be up to the task.
Cryptic 7-4fav (10-11) Chased winner, not fluent 5th, ridden after 3 out, every chance 2 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Ballyshan (10-4) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy.
Or Sing About (FR) 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, awkward 7th, challenged 2 out, every chance flat, no extra near finish, 3rd of 17, nk behind National Trust (11-7) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Dec.
Quarry Town (IRE) 13-8jt-fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led after 7th, ridden 2 out, stayed on well from last, ridden out, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft beating Oniphlaure (11-12) by 7l, 11 ran.
Ocean du Moulin (FR) 2-1 (11-5) Soon in touch, headway after 3 out, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, held when blundered and fell at the last in race won by Mount Oscar (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov, 18 ran.
Sharajan (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) In rear, headway after 4th, lost place approaching 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Hoh Viss (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) hvy, 11 ran.
Earth Planet (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 7th, effort approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 15, 17l behind Petit Robin (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Rudivale (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Pulled hard towards rear, weakened 7th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Busy Henry (11-6) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft, 17 ran.
