chased leader, ridden 3f out, weakened final 2f
behind, effort and weakened final 3f
mid-division, headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden and weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened final 2f
held up, headway over 3f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened towards finish
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
slow away, held up, headway over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, stayed on final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, held on well
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 5f out, soon pulled up
always behind, weakened over 3f out, soon eased, tailed off
mid-division, ridden and weakened final 2f
in touch, ridden over 2f out weakened over 1f out
A big field here but we can concentrate on Gold Ring, Captain Clipper and King Revo, with preference for the former. Toby Balding's charge has a 4lb pull for a three-quarters-of-a-length beating by King Revo over this trip at Hamilton last time out. The Groom Dancer gelding should not be inconvenienced by the ground and can make the most of that turn around in the weights to score. King Revo is a useful sort who won the Victor Ludorum Hurdle earlier in the year and could still be a leading player over timber in the future. He can also transform his ability to the level and handles the ground well, so he has to be involved here but will do well to confirm form with the selection as these weights. There are plenty of other exposed sorts in a race which is perhaps not as competitive as it might look on paper, and the one we like best of the others is Captain Clipper, although he is drawn widest of all and that won't help. Dandy Nicholls' gelding won a 12 furlong soft ground classified contest at Thirsk last time and his trainer says he will be the next Istabraq - high praise indeed. He can go very well again but may find that draw his biggest hurdle here. The selection then, is Gold Ring.
