took keen hold, in touch, challenged 4 out, chased winner next until 2 out, weakened soon after
in rear when hampered 7th, struggling after, tailed off
chased leader, led 2nd until 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
held up well in rear, plugged on after 4 out, never in contention
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders approaching next, chased winner 2 out, no impression when edged left before last
led to 2nd, stayed prominent until weakened soon after 7th, tailed off
in touch, chased leaders 4 out, one pace and no impression from next
chased leaders, ridden and struggling 8th, soon behind and tailed off
held up in rear, making some headway when fell 7th
in rear, headway into mid-division, not on terms before 4 out, weakened soon after
behind, ridden along before 6th, headway under pressure after next, went 2nd 4 out, led before next, ridden and hit last, kept on well
hampered 7th, always in rear
behind, pushed along before 6th, struggling soon after, tailed off
mid-division, pushed along before 6th, soon in rear, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th to 4 out, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, weakened 8th, well behind when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders until ridden and weakened before 3 out
The ubiquitous tongue tie will hopefully make the difference to RAGAMUFFIN MAN, cheekpieces could be interesting for Pistol Desbois whilst Rebeccas Choice is respected. The selection has attracted support on more than one occasion and is becoming expensive to follow so there's clearly some risk in siding with him but he's clearly deemed capable of performing better than he has been so is given another chance with an aid attached. Pistol Desbois has been hugely disappointing over fences and could be falling out of love with the game but if cheekpieces have the desired effect then he doesn't look too badly handicapped and connections have gone to the trouble of securing the services of an up and coming conditional. Rebeccas Choice had the field well strung out behind at Warwick but the handicapper's response has been predictably draconian. She could be on the upgrade but looks opposable from her revised mark in a stronger race. Thedeboftheyear is progressing, the onepaced Silver Spinner should be involved, Soliya has claims on the pick of her form whilst Inside Dealer, Viking Blond and Osokenda are unexposed runners to note but Ragamuffin Man is given the chance to atone.
Thedeboftheyear 22-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway approaching 8th, outpaced 9th, rallied 3 out, chased winner 2 out, stayed on to close as winner eased towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Tarateeno (10-2) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Soliya (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Led, headed 5th, weakened after 4 out, 11th of 14, 43l behind Gold Award (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Pistol Desbois (FR) 8-1 (11-11) Always in rear, struggling before 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Senor Shane (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Bally Conn (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Always behind, struggling 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 16, 35l behind Volador (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Silver Spinner 7-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, every chance approaching last, no extra, 3rd of 15, 4l behind Lord Crewe (10-8) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
My Turn Now (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Prominent, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 11th of 16, well behind Volador (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Rebeccas Choice (IRE) 4-1fav (11-1) Mid-division, headway after 4th, led 9th, drew clear from 2 out, stayed on well, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec beating Not For Diamonds (10-7) by 14l, 18 ran.
Deep Pockets (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, tailed off when blundered 11th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Wizard of Edge (10-4) at Taunton 3m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Ragamuffin Man (IRE) 5-2fav (11-6) Behind, blundered 4th, headway to chase leaders 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 11l behind Dan Buoy (10-12) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Inside Dealer (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Mid-division on outside, pushed along approaching 2 out, no impression, 6th of 14, 27l behind Vino Griego (11-1) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Viking Blond (FR) 28-1 (10-5) Prominent, ridden after 4 out, no impression after, 3rd of 11, 23l behind Edge Of Town (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Swainson (USA) 100-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened last, 6th of 17, 11l behind Raise You Five (10-13) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Zephyros (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Soon behind, lost touch 6th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Have You Seen Me (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
Solitary Palm (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) In touch, challenged 3 out, hit next, soon ridden and outpaced, lost 2nd and no extra flat, 4th of 11, 3l behind Deep Pockets (10-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Acosta 11-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, disputed lead 9th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 11th of 18, well behind King Stanley (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Osokenda 10-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, lost place after 8th, soon in rear, rallied after 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, led before last, driven clear flat, won at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May beating Classic Quart (10-11) by 5l, 10 ran.
Gouranga 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, in touch 6th, led before 3 out to next, soon one pace, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind French Ties (10-11) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
