chased leader, not fluent, ridden 3 out, one pace
close up, ridden and every chance 3 out, one pace from next
held up in rear, ridden and outpaced 7th, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well
led, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Go Solo doesn't look the most straight-forward of horses but he should be up to defying his 5lb penalty for a convincing victory at Exeter and is taken to score at the expense of Pirate Flagship. With just the three runners, the form of Go Solo's win may not be the most reliable but he did it well in the end and, due to go up in the handicap in the future, David Pipe will be looking to strike while the iron is hot. Pirate Flagship concedes a stone to the selection today and may struggle, although his form is much stronger and he certainly shouldn't be inconvenienced by the quicker ground. Jockey Harry Skelton is yet to have a winner and isn't the strongest in the finish but he's on the best horse so must have claims of breaking his duck. Course and distance winner Culcabock is game and consistent but hasn't won in his last twenty starts so cannot be fancied for win purposes. Wally Wonder is reliable and should run his race but a mark of 103 looks optimistic, and so we will tentatively return to Go Solo to win again.
Pirate Flagship (FR) 40-1 (10-4) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 14th of 20, 12l behind Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Go Solo 5-6fav (11-12) Led until 2nd, tracked leader, reminders after 5th, led and ran green approaching 3 out, soon headed, waited with, led last, ran on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) frm beating Executive Paddy (11-3) by 12l, 3 ran.
Prince Among Men 33-1 (10-9) Mid-division, struggling halfway, 8th of 13, well behind Laouen (11-5) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Wally Wonder (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Chased winner, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened after last, 4th of 17, 6l behind Lutea (11-6) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Culcabock (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Chased winner until approaching 2 out, one pace after, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Saif Sareea (11-2) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Border Tale 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, weakened from 12th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Barracat (9-10) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
