led to after 3rd, tracked leader, challenged 3 out, ridden, every chance when mistake next, weakened last
tracked leader, led after 3rd, ridden 3 out, headed next, weakened approaching last
mid-division, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up before next
mid-division, ridden, outpaced 4 out, soon behind
mid-division, weakened 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders to 5th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up behind, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, ridden, kept on same pace approaching last
chased leaders to 5th, weakened from next
held up behind, short lived effort before 4 out, soon weakened
always prominent, led 2 out, driven clear approaching last, stayed on well
mid-division, ridden 4th, soon lost place, weakened 4 out
in touch, hit 5th, effort 3 out, stayed on to chase winner last, no impression
Nonrunner
Top Mark handled the ground best of all last time out and under similar conditions he is fancied to follow up at the main expense of Scuzme, Contendo, and Field Roller. The selection comes here on the back of a win over the course and distance and he has shown an aptritude for soft ground in the past. This handicap is going to demand some more improvement but he looks the type to keep on improving. Kempski disappointed last time out and can be rated better than that, whilst Inch High looks sure to benefit from this drop in trip but on recent evidence he is hard to fancy. Field Roller returns from an absence and on his old form he would have a good chance but this ground on his reappearance may just find him out. Scuzme ran really well behind the improving Blackpool Billy last time out and since he has franked the form since, he should be respected, however we will return to Top Mark as the nomination.
Kempski 10-1 (11-8) Prominent, driven and lost place before 7th, dropped out quickly and pulled up at the 8th in race won by Peters Star (10-5) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs, 16 ran.
Inch High 10-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Kempski (10-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy, 9 ran.
Field Roller (IRE) 5-4fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, smooth headway to lead 3 out, soon ridden, blundered next and last, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Ballynure (10-0) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Aug '06.
Midnight Diamond (IRE) 11-4 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching 4 out, 4th of 6, 22l behind Manhattan Boy (11-0) at Taunton 2m beg chs (4) sft.
Another Superman (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Never a factor and pulled up 5 out in race won by Alphazar (11-5) at Thurles 2m 2f hcp chs 0-102 sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Scuzme (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Led, headed last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Blackpool Billy (11-7) at Hexham 2m nov hdl (4) sft.
Top Mark 10-1 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to lead flat, stayed on well, won at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy beating Contendo (10-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Duke of Malfi 16-1 (10-7) Tracked leader and keen, challenged 5th, one pace approaching 2 out, 5th of 9, 6l behind Top Mark (11-0) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy.
Sting (GER) 50-1 (11-2) Held up, outpaced 4 out, 5th of 9, 25l behind Blackpool Billy (11-2) at Ayr 2m nh mdn hdl (5) hvy.
Oleolat (FR) 11-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Bonnie Rock (11-9) at Newcastle 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Contendo 7-2 (10-0) Held up, headway after 4 out, outpaced next, hung left 2 out, rallied to chase winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Top Mark (11-0) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy.
Soul Angel 25-1 (9-8) Close up, led 5th, not fluent 2 out, mistake last, soon headed, kept on, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Top Mark (11-0) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy.
Carrietau 10-1 (11-1) Mid-division, reminders 3rd, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up in race won by John Forbes (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf, 13 ran.
Howards Dream (IRE) 40-1 (10-2) Led and keen, headed 5th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Top Mark (11-0) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy, 9 ran.
