tracked leaders, weakened from 5th
led, headed after 3rd, tracked winner, weakened after 4 out
prominent, led after 3rd, blundered 4 out, ridden and mistake last, headed close home
held up in touch, chased winner approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead close home
held up in rear, outpaced from 5th
tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
held up and keen, not fluent 1st, chased leaders after 3 out, soon weakened
A rare blip on the card here in terms of quality and we will side with RED AND WHITE to defy topweight and have the measure of the in-form Ishismart. The latter was runner up in a 1m 4f maiden at Wolverhampton on Monday and has been put up 11lbs over hurdles for scoring readily at Uttoxeter when last seen in this sphere. There is no doubting she is on good terms with herself, but there has to be some doubt over her ability to handle this ground. Therefore preference is with Red And White. The Venetia Williams string is in cracking form and this four-year-old filly has shown she handles cut. She has the useful Will Biddick claiming 3lbs off her back and will have strengthened up a bit since last seen and we will side with her. Kijivu keeps going up in the weights without winning and previous runs with cut in the ground have proved abortive, so we will take her on, while the unexposed Takelli looks a nice colt who will win more for Evan Williams, although the going may also be against him today. Manjam acts on the ground and should get very competitive from this mark, but Red And White can take gold here.
Red And White (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden after 5th, soon weakened, 8th of 10, well behind Opatja (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Kijivu 10-3 (10-4) Led, ridden after 3 out, headed last, rallied as winner idled flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Rock Me (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Ishismart 9-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4th, led over 2f out, clear final furlong, ran on well (no time taken), won at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sep beating Bet Noir (11-3) by 7l, 16 ran.
Manjam (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, switched left after 2 out, kept on under pressure flat to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Zabeel Palace (11-11) at Plumpton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Oct.
Petit Fleur 28-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 9, 25l behind Three Ships (10-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Takelli (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway on inside approaching 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 16l behind Olofi (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Eastern Dagger 66-1 (10-0) Mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Sexy Rexy (11-11) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Nov '08, 16 ran.
