held up towards rear, never dangerous
held up mid-division, chased leaders on outer over 3f out, led over 2f out, clear final furlong
in touch, weakened well over 1f out
led, headed 6f out, quickly lost place, tailed off
with leader, pushed along and weakened over 2f out
in rear, headway on outer over 2f out, one pace final furlong
held up towards rear and keen, headway to lead over 6f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, no impression
chased leaders, headway over 2f out, one pace
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong
held up towards rear, outpaced 4f out, soon tailed off
Laura Land needs a market check for last year's winning connections but without that guide we'll take IF I HAD HIM to win for trainer George Baker, with Savaronola and Snowberry Hill others to consider albeit for very different reasons. Our pick makes his first start for the yard having been bought to run in the colours of Sir Alex Ferguson. Previously trained in Ireland, the gelding has shown enough over hurdles to suggest a mark of 50 is fair and the booking of top amateur Simon Walker suggests connections are confident. Snowberry Hill requires rather less guesswork having already won a race here but he was seemingly found out by stepping back to this sort of trip last time and can be taken on, with Savaronola of more interest but only if support arrived. Barney Curley's runner is thrown in on his Irish form and could easily win this on the steel if connections have him at his best. Laura Land represents the father-and-son combination that took this last year and she's not had many chances but, whilst this step up in trip should help her improve, she does need to. Haka Dancer was held here last time and a 1lb drop won't help enough so, in a race where the market needs more than just a cursary glance, our vote goes to If I Had Him.
Magic Warrior 66-1 (8-8) Keen, held up, ridden over 2f out, never a factor, 10th of 14, 27l behind Inch Lodge (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Savaronola (USA) 11-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 14, 17l behind Three Strings (8-11) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Apr '09.
Snowberry Hill (USA) 5-2fav (9-5) Held up in touch, headway to challenge well over 1f out, soon ridden, one pace, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Leyte Gulf (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Sep.
Highland River 20-1 (8-2) Led, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 11l behind Gremlin (9-3) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Laura Land 20-1 (8-8) In touch, weakened 2f out, 7th of 14, 11l behind Mellow Mixture (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f app hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Call Of Duty (IRE) 10-1 (8-2) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 13, 15l behind Fujin Dancer (9-2) at Hamilton 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Haka Dancer (USA) 6-1 (8-13) Held up, chased leaders over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 5l behind Dazzling Begum (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Feb.
If I Had Him (IRE) 10-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden from 5f out, moderate 6th 3f out, kept on same pace straight, 4th of 7, 18l behind Jettymarc (9-7) at Clonmel 2m hcp 60-90 hvy in Sep.
Darfour 9-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 10th of 13, 10l behind Very Well Red (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Jan.
Anasy (USA) 40-1 (8-9) Behind, ridden along 4f out, headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on, no danger, 7th of 12, 9l behind Mondego (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks 0-55 (6) pol in Oct.
Bedarra Boy 16-1 (8-10) Prominent, went 2nd 3f out, led inside final 2f, led over 1f out, soon edged left, one pace and no impression when lost 2nd entering final 1f, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Dazzling Begum (8-13) at Folkestone 1m 7f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Sep.
Cemgraft 9-2fav (9-8) Held up, ridden 3f out, no impression over 2f out, weakened, 8th of 13, 9l behind Jadeeron (9-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp (6) pol in Aug '06.
