held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, went 2nd approaching next, led last, stayed on well, driven out
led, headed approaching 2nd, led after 4 out, blundered 2 out, headed last, one pace
pulled hard, led approaching 2nd, soon clear, until hit 4 out, soon headed, weakened approaching next
tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up in rear, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
soon tracking leader, weakened after 3 out
The top two look to have scared off most of the intended opposition here, with PEPE SIMO given the nod to eclipse Any Given Day. The Paul Nicholls-trained selection has won both of his starts so far this season, though he has yet to come across an opponent as tough as Donald McCain's runner. Even so, he definitely has a progressive profile and acts with cut in the ground. This minimum trip looks ideal for now and he is taken to continue his improvement. Any Given Day is around a stone better off at the weights with the selection than if this were a handicap. The four-year-old is officially rated 140 after completing a hat-trick on fast ground earlier in the year. Although he did win a 1m 4f flat handicap on soft, most of his best form is on a sound or fast surface and he might just be vulnerable. None of the other quartet look serious win material, but Candle represents a yard going well and handles cut as she showed when an easy Wetherby scorer last time. There should be more to come from her, though Quatro Pierji is likely to remain a maiden once more after this one. Pepe Simo is the one for us.
Pepe Simo (IRE) 8-11fav (11-4) Mid-division, strong headway approaching 2 out, hit and led last, unchallenged, won at Wincanton 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gs beating Diamond Brook (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Any Given Day (IRE) 7-2fav (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge and jumped right 2 out, went 3rd under pressure approaching last, no impression, 3rd of 9, 5l behind James De Vassy (10-4) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Oddsmaker (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders and keen, weakened approaching 3 out, in 4th when blundered last, 5th of 8, 36l behind Shares (11-0) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar '07.
Quatro Pierji (FR) 10-3fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, headway 4 out, led next, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Dinarius (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Wine 'n Dine 33-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, went poor 3rd 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 12, 22l behind Thumbs Up (11-7) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Candle 5-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, led before 3 out, drew clear between last 2, stayed on well, easily, won at Wetherby 2m mrs nov hdl (4) sft beating Carmela Maria (10-10) by 11l, 8 ran.
