slowly in to stride, held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, hung left over 1f out, always behind
slowly in to stride, held up in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong to take 3rd post
mid-division, headway over 8f out, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, driven out, just held on
prominent, took keen hold, ridden and beaten when not clear run just over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
prominent, pulled hard, chased leader 9f out, led just over 3f out, headed 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong
held up, headway 3f out, ridden and hung left from over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, just failed
prominent, led over 10f out, headed just over 3f out, beaten over 1f out
led, headed over 10f out, prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
mid division, took keen hold, headway 3f out, ridden 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
always in rear
With the yard continuing in rude health, Ian Williams' KICKAHEAD is worth one last chance to prove himself well-treated, and he gets the vote from Royal Rainbow and Fantasy Ride. Our selection has been backed in to favouritism on each of his last two starts, both times travelling nicely before finding a spot of trouble. Perhaps he lacks a yard or so of tactical pace, but he's looked good over hurdles this winter and looks so well treated on that form that we'll go in once more in the hope they go a good gallop. Should he once again disappoint, Royal Rainbow has obvious prospects of landing back-to-back victories. The Hyiatt-gelding held on by a neck when scoring over course and distance last time and whilst a penalty makes life tougher, at least he arrives in form and will relish conditions. Fantasy Ride completes the shortlist having scored off a higher mark here at a similar time last year. Jeff Pearce's horses are going well and this one looks primed to bounce back to form under Saleem Golam. Barbirolli has a poor strike rate but won off a pound higher in the summer, so he could run into a place at a price, but of more interest is Dovedon Angel whose mark is unchanged following a string of solid efforts and this one is far less exposed. Sir Sandicliffe hasn't won for over a year and may want further than this, City Stable has been off the track for some time but is unexposed and represents shrewd connections so merits a market check, whilst Crimson Flame might improve on his first run in over a year last time but he'll certainly need to if he's to get competitive. With Pipers Song and Bubses Boy opposable in their current moods, we'll go with the well-treated Kickahead once more.
Sir Sandicliffe (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 2f out, never in contention, 7th of 13, 10l behind Russian Music (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Barbirolli 20-1 (8-7) Held up in rear, ridden 2f out kept on not troubled leaders, 5th of 7, 4l behind Kames Park (8-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Fantasy Ride 14-1 (9-4) Mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, kept on one pace final 3f, 4th of 14, 8l behind Shannersburg (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f sell stks in Dec.
Royal Rainbow 8-1 (8-13) Tracked leader, driven well over 2f out, stayed on under pressure to lead last strides, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f clm stks (6) pol beating Fujin Dancer (9-4) by nk, 7 ran.
Kickahead (USA) 3-1fav (8-11) Held up, not much room over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 10, 3l behind Winning Show (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Crimson Flame (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 3f out, 4th of 8, 14l behind Daniel Thomas (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app sll stks (6) pol in Dec.
Bubses Boy 14-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 9th of 13, 16l behind Franco Is My Name (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Kochanski (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 6f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 12, 21l behind Largem (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Sep.
Dovedon Angel 4-1 (8-8) Soon led, headed over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Mehendi (8-8) at Southwell 1m 3f app mdn stks (6) fbs.
Riverside 66-1 (8-8) Always in rear, 13th of 14, 17l behind Jonnie Skull (9-3) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.
City Stable (IRE) 20-1 (8-6) Steadied start, pulled hard in last, always behind, 9th of 10, 10l behind Inspirina (9-11) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jul.
Piper's Song (IRE) 9-2fav (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 6th of 12, 8l behind Litenup (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-52 (6) pol.
