tracked leader, driven to challenge 3 out, weakened next
led until 5th, mistake 7th, soon weakened
soon tracking leaders, led 3 out, clear approaching last, ran on well
mid-division, headway 6th, weakened 2 out
behind, headway 7th, tracked winner 2 out, soon one pace
tracked leaders, lost place before 6th
held up towards rear, headway 4th, soon prominent, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, weakened 7th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, lost place 6th, pulled up 3 out
held up mid-division, under pressure 3 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, led 7th, headed 3 out, soon weakened
behind, headway after 3rd, led after 5th, headed 7th, weakened next
Gustavo, Lincoln's Inn and Coconut Beach make the short-list with Gustavo getting the vote. The selection made rapid strides last year but his recent return at Leicester suggested that the handicapper may not have caught up with him yet. The stable's runners continue in excellent heart and he may have come on sufficiently from that outing to land this contest. Lincoln's Inn put some modest displays behind him with a valiant second over 2 miles 6 here last time. He's gone back up in the weights as a result but this slightly shorter trip may suit him better and a similar effort should see him finish there or thereabouts. Court Ruler, Coconut Beach, Pen Gwen, Witness Run and Keltic Rock all have bits and pieces of form that ensures they merit consideration but equally all have question marks hanging over them for one reason or another. In light of that, we'll come back to Gustavo for the winner as he ticks all the right boxes.
Court Ruler 33-1 (10-6) Mid-division, headway 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 13th of 20, well behind Eden Linty (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Smart Boy Prince (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Prominent, weakened quickly approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Khasab (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan, 15 ran.
Gustavo 13-2 (11-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, effort between last 2, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Khasab (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan.
Coconut Beach 9-2 (11-2) Led until headed 4th, stayed prominent, ridden and no impression when hit 2 out, went poor 2nd flat, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Prime Contender (11-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Lincoln's Inn (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, every chance next, stayed on same pace under pressure, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Deep Reflection (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Witness Run (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 6th in race won by King Louis (11-3) at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Dec, 9 ran.
Pen Gwen (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Keen, with leaders, led 2 out, soon headed, weakened quickly approaching last, 5th of 13, 19l behind Stradbrook (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Keltic Rock 25-1 (11-3) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Irish Legend (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 17 ran.
History Master (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden along after 16th, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 14, 39l behind Southwestern (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gd in May.
Captain Smoothy 50-1 (11-0) In rear, ridden and weakened 4 out, 7th of 8, well behind Letitia's Loss (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec '06.
Miss Colmesnil (FR) 100-1 (10-4) Mid-division until weakened 3 out, tailed off, 14th of 15, well behind Souriceau (10-7) at Folkestone 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Common Girl (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, hit 6th, soon lost place, stayed on, never on terms, 5th of 14, well behind Fondness (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Harbour Breeze (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Prominent until pushed along 5th, soon lost placed, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Cryptic (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Go On Jack 40-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 16, well behind Bold Ransom (10-7) at Newcastle 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
