travelling well, in touch, smooth headway from 3f out, switched right over 1f out, pressed winner inside final furlong, ridden and found nil
in rear, ridden over 3f out, never near leaders
in touch, chased leader 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, found extra when challenged inside final furlong
led, headed over 6f out, chased leader until 3f out, soon weakened
tracked leader, led over 6f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace final furlong
keen, tracked leaders, reminders 5f out, weakened and eased over 3f out, virtually pulled up final 2f
held up, lost touch over 4f out, heavily eased over 3f out, virtually pulled up final 2f
mid-division, ridden 3f out, some headway to go 4th 2f out, never troubled leaders
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 3f out, never troubled leaders
Near-miss merchant ARASHI is due a win and this looks a good opportunity for Lucinda Feathertone's gelding to finally get off the mark and will take him to do so in preference to Lunar River and Chia. Rarely out of the frame the selection again found just one too good last time. He seems to have found a liking for this track and with so many of this field coming into this race out of form this could be his easiest opportunity to date. Lunar River is a course-and-distance winner and now and again shows a spark of form. There was a hint of something resembling a good performance last time and with a further two pounds removed from his load he is weighted to go well. Chia has taken both career successes over course and distance and should be able to go close after a break under his last winning weight. Hucking Heat also goes well here and is just a pound above his last winning mark but with that win becoming a distant memory Arashi is our selection this time.
Lunar River (FR) 28-1 (8-9) Held up behind, ridden over 1f out, never able to challenge, 6th of 10, 9l behind Expressive (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f fll hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Sep.
Hucking Heat (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) In touch, lost place 2f out, soon ridden and no impression, 6th of 12, 11l behind Handsome Falcon (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Kildare Sun (IRE) 18-1 (8-9) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 10l behind Spate River (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Chia (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division and pulled hard, headway from 2f out, never able to challenge, 5th of 14, 6l behind Constant Cheers (8-13) at Warwick 1m 3f hcp (6) gf in Jun '08.
Arashi 11-2 (9-4) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, challenged and every chance over 1f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Cheers For Thea (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Sep.
Brer Rabbit 25-1 (9-1) Dwelt, always in rear, 11th of 12, 11l behind Sapphire Prince (9-3) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (5) gf.
Flodden Field 7-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, ridden entering final furlong, stayed on same pace, 5th of 7, 2 1/4l behind Seaway (9-0) at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf in Jul.
King of Connacht 6-1 (9-1) Mid-divison, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 6l behind Naheell (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-65) (6) pol.
Top Seed (IRE) 40-1 (9-8) Dwelt, in rear, behind from 4f out, last of 12, 38l behind Bramalea (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Sep.