held up, under pressure 4 out, never on terms
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
behind, not fluent 2nd, never dangerous
tracked leaders, always travelling well, led 2 out, stayed on strongly
led, headed 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway halfway, chased leaders from 3 out, kept on well
held up in touch, hit 4th, chased leaders 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
in touch, chased leaders 3 out, not fluent and under pressure next, soon beaten
mid-division, lost place before 3 out
tracked leaders, slow 1st, soon in touch, lost place halfway
A few that are potentially of interest with GABRESELASSIE the pick; Vacario and Princeful complete the short-list. The selection ran second to a well regarded sort on his debut in a Uttoxeter bumper and didn't shape too badly on his hurdling bow at Stratford despite not really getting involved in the race. He sunk without trace at Aintree last time but that was in a hot race, on his reappearance and his yard was in much better form before the big freeze than it was then. Vacario's four runs have been in bumpers and he's shown a decent level of form in that sphere. He's shown gradual improvement with each outing and has to be respected on his hurdling bow. Rockiteer rates a mention but it may be worth having a second look at Princeful who won his sole start on the level in France. He's run in a couple of fairly warm races and could be more competitive in this less competitive heat with those runs under his belt. The market should be useful here but it will be disappointing if Gabreselassie can't live up to his early promise.
Alldunnandusted (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders to halfway, 7th of 11, well behind Balthazar King (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn nhf (6) gs in Nov.
Gabreselassie (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, hit 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 16, well behind Massasoit (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Oct.
Peters Pride 11-1 (10-5) Mid-division, mistake 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 16, 30l behind Palm Reader (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Princeful (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Led 2 after 1st, chased leader until weakened after 3 out, 7th of 9, 16l behind Dave's Dream (11-5) at Newbury 2m hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Rockiteer (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 13, 12l behind Kadouchski (11-3) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Shinnecock Bay 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 16, 5l behind Wade Farm Billy (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nhf (6) gd in Apr.
Su Bleu (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Soon led, strongly pressed and headed over 2f out, no extra, 6th of 20, 20l behind Battle In Hand (11-1) at Galway 2m nhf gd in Jul.
The Fabricator (FR) 50-1 (10-5) Held up, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 47l behind Teenage Idol (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Thomondgate (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up in last pair, losing touch when fell 5 out in race won by The Nightingale (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Ukrainian Star (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Ridden and weakened 3 out, 11th of 15, well behind Quazy de Joie (10-7) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Vacario (GER) 9-1 (11-4) Always in touch, chased winner over 2f out, soon challenging, edged slightly right when struck on head by rival jockey's whip just over 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Ellen Tilley (10-6) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (5) gs in Dec.
Pistol At Dawn (IRE) 50-1 (10-4) In rear, some headway 4f out, 7th of 15, 27l behind Swansbrook (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Dec.
