behind, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, left 2nd last, kept on
mid-division, hit 7th, headway 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next
always in rear
led after 2nd, headed approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, behind when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to challenge next, 2 lengths down when fell last
in touch, headway after 4 out, effort next, 4th and held when fell last
jumped right, in touch, driven and lost place after 5th, headway 4 out, led approaching next, ridden and stayed on from 2 out
always towards rear
tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, soon ridden, no impression when brought down last
behind, headway on outside approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next
led to after 2nd, tracked leader, ridden and lost place after 4 out, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, no impression
We will shortlist The Market Man, Inch Pride and Covent Garden and select The Market Man. The Nicky Henderson-trained selection looked a horse to follow when scoring nicely at Cheltenham on his seasonal return - when said to be in need of the run. Raised eight pounds for that, he still looks competitive here. Inch Pride represents the all-conquering Johnson/Pipe/Murphy team and, a Listed handicap winner last year, he is respected, as is last season's Coral Cup fourth, Covent Garden, who looks a good prospect. Of the others, Halcon Genelardais looked progressive last year and should have better to come, and Flame Phoenix is certainly well-weighted based on his 2004 hurdling form. Cloudy Grey comes here with a good reputation, but has something to prove on his return, although his stable is in form. All in all, though, we are happy to side with The Market Man.
Penny Pictures (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway and hit 3 out, never dangerous after, 8th of 17, 14l behind The Market Man (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Oct.
Paddy The Piper (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Held up in touch, mistake 7th, headway approaching 3 out, every chance last, no extra on flat, 6th of 11, 6l behind River Alder (9-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gf in May.
Monolith 12-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, 14th of 18, well behind Nonantais (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) sft in Apr.
Cloudy Grey (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Led until fell at the 4th in race won by Rob Leach (10-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
Halcon Genelardais (FR) 5-2 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 6th, not fluent 9th, led 2 out, clear last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gs in Mar beating Double Header (11-8) by 8l, 17 ran.
Inch Pride (IRE) 5-2fav (10-2) Keen, chased leader from 3rd to 7th, weakened quickly 3 out, 12th of 15, 45l behind Lacdoudal (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (A) sft in Oct.
Covent Garden 14-1 (10-7) Towards rear, ridden and headway 2 out, stayed on well flat, never nearer, 4th of 29, 16l behind Idole First (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
The Persuader (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Mid-division, lost place 6th, soon behind, 11th of 13, 44l behind Mr Cool (10-4) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs in May.
Crathorne (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on from next, 4th of 13, 3l behind Brooklyn Breeze (11-6) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Oct.
Flame Phoenix (USA) 25-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 4th, weakened 4 out, 7th of 11, 26l behind Cantgeton (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (E) gd in Oct.
Just Beth 33-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 15, 16l behind Nathos (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gs.
Pebble Bay 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, driven and effort 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, 3rd of 17, 16l behind Wild Is The Wind (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) hvy in Oct.
The Market Man (NZ) 9-2jt-fav (10-13) Held up in mid-division, good headway when slightly hampered 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Oct beating Fire Dragon (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
