made all, clear when ridden over 1f out, easily
slowly into stride, chased winner after 1f, ridden over 3f out, no impression 2f out, lost 2nd and weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, pulled hard, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden 5f out, headway 4f out, hung right and weakened 2f out, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
Disappointingly just the six runners line up for this claimer which looks to lie between Cobo Bay, FREMEN and Night Knight, with David Nicholls' contender Fremen looking the one to beat having won his last six starts and eight of his last nine in either sellers or claimers and he can win again. There is little to recommend the trio of Inchmarlow, Its Beyond Me or Roman History and of more interest may be Chris Grant's Night Knight. The four-year-old has been well held in his last few starts over hurdles but may do better back on the level in this grade so he cannot be discounted. Kevin Ryan's Cobo Bay has been performing creditably in handicaps in recent starts since winning back-to-back claimers at Wolverhampton in March and he has to be considered back in that grade today but a better bet looks to be Fremen, who can win again.
Cobo Bay 6-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, progress to chase leaders, after 2f, went 2nd halfway, every chance when hung right over 2f out, soon under pressure, one pace, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Tiger Reigns (9-4) at Ripon 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in May.
Fremen (USA) 2-1fav (9-8) Led after 1f, made rest, ridden over 1f out, ran on well final furlong, won at Musselburgh 1m 1f sell stks (4) gf beating Mount Hadley (9-3) by 1l, 6 ran.
Inchmarlow (IRE) 80-1 (8-12) Prominent, led over 6f out, headed 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 10, 26l behind Red Blossom (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec '07.
Night Knight (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Transformer (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
Its Beyond Me 100-1 (8-2) Always towards rear, 11th of 12, 34l behind Slip (8-13) at Catterick 1m 4f clm stks (6) fm in May.
Roman History (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Always mid-division, 7th of 15, 5l behind Miss Ferney (8-11) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-52 (6) gf in Aug.