behind, headway over 1f out, soon hard ridden and no impression
tracked leaders, hard driven halfway, lost place well over 1f out
tracked winner, hard driven over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up, never dangerous
held up in rear, some late headway, never nearer
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, never on terms
started very slowly, behind, headway over 1f out, never nearer
chased leaders, hard ridden to challenge over 2f out, soon no impression
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon ridden to chase winner, kept on well
mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon ridden to challenge, no extra final furlong
chased leaders, under pressure halfway, weakened over 1f out
made all, quickened over 2f out, soon hard driven, stayed on gamely under pressure
This is a particularly poor affair in which stakes are best kept to a minimum, with our speculative pick QUALITAS taken to beat All You Need and Dynamo Dave. Mick Easterby's son of Orpen is less exposed than most and a couple of his runs suggest a mark of 50 shouldn't be too much of a problem. This drop back down to seven furlongs looks a wise move as he looked short of stamina over further last time, making that fifth place all the more commendable and perhaps he can find the requisite improvement to score from All You Need. Reg Hollinshead's exposed gelding has two course victories to his name and whilst he's yet to win over this far, perhaps he now needs a seventh furlong to be seen at his best, a feeling supported by his staying on effort over six last time. Dynamo Dave won a poor event at Lingfield in the latter part of 2009 and has struggled off higher marks since. However, his penultimate third over this trip represents solid form for the grade and he has at least shown he knows how to get the job done. Djalalabad is a course and distance winner off a higher mark previously but hasn't been running at all well of late, Mojeerr's effort at Southwell last time was too bad to be true but he'd have a chance on the pick of his efforts if bouncing back, whilst See That Girl is worth a market check representing in-form connections with Jim Crowley booked. Stablemates Battimoore and Bertbrand have both been out of form lately but the first named is unexposed and capable of progress, but unless the market makes strong noises to the contrary she looks opposable. The others look to be woefully out of sorts and so our attentions return to Qualitas.
Mojeerr 4-1 (8-10) Outpaced and behind, eased 2f out, last of 7, 38l behind Bicksta (8-1) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-52 (6) fbs.
Romantic Verse 33-1 (8-7) Always behind, 11th of 13, 23l behind Dontuwishitwereso (8-6) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Qualitas 6-1 (8-12) Headway to chase leaders 8f out, hard ridden 2f out, weakened final 1f, 5th of 12, 8l behind Mondego (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks 0-55 (6) pol in Oct.
Bertbrand 14-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, hard ridden 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, last of 8, 22l behind Brazilian Brush (8-6) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-52 (6) fbs.
Dynamo Dave (USA) 11-1 (8-2) Mid-division, not much room well over 5f out, lost place over 2f out, no danger after, 6th of 11, 9l behind Art Market (9-3) at Lingfield 7f Handicap (0-58) (4yo+) (6) pol.
Battimoore (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Always towards rear, 9th of 12, 15l behind Tallest Peak (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Dec.
See That Girl 11-2 (8-6) Dwelt, always behind, 8th of 9, 17l behind Sonhador (8-13) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Oct.
Djalalabad (FR) 9-2 (9-3) Slowly into stride, behind, headway final furlong, never troubled leaders, 6th of 12, 8l behind Tallest Peak (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Dec.
Almatlaie (USA) 40-1 (8-9) Soon led, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 6l behind Radiator Rooney (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (0-55) (6) pol.
All You Need (IRE) 20-1 (8-4) Held up in touch, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Radiator Rooney (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (0-55) (6) pol.
Wicklewood 20-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, soon pushed along in mid-division, ridden and struggling over 2f out, 7th of 12, 10l behind Tallest Peak (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Dec.
Top Flight Splash 11-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, driven over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 7th of 8, 18l behind Brazilian Brush (8-6) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-52 (6) fbs.
