held up towards rear, headway when not clear run from over 1f out, quickened well inside final furlong, not reached leaders
held up tracking leaders, squeezed through to chase leaders over 3f out, chased winner from over 1f out, no further impression
in touch, hampered and carried wide on bend and lost place over 3f out, headway approaching 2f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, hampered 3f out, effort and not clear run over 1f out, not recover
tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, ran on
broke well and steadied, hampered and stumbled and lost place over 3f out, not recover
soon led, ridden when headed approaching final furlong, weakened
slowly into stride, towards rear, not clear run over 2f out, switched left and plugged on
Tartartartufata is recommended ahead of Smokin Beau and Talbot Avenue. Derek Shaw's charge really should have had a race in the bag last Saturday at Wolverhampton but Paddy Mathers was not at his best and the filly just began to hang when pressure was applied. A filly in form, she will take the beating. Smokin Beau is the class element in the race and has to be respected. The nine-year-old is not the force he was but he would not need to be in order to take a hand in this affair. Talbot Avenue is making an all-weather debut so the market is watched to see how confident connections are. Classic Encounter has been highly tried in the past although the handicapper is at least granting some respite. Graze On may be much better today's trip and with his stable in form, he could represent some value against the market leaders. Harry Up makes a first foray onto this track having campaigned often at Wolverhampton and is watched. Brandywell Boy invariably finishes close-up although a win record of 1-15 is scarcely anything to write home about. Tartartartufata is fit and in form and she secures the nod.
Classic Encounter (IRE) 40-1 (8-13) Keen in mid-division, weakened halfway, 12th of 13, 7l behind King Orchisios (8-10) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Oct.
Talbot Avenue 18-1 (9-7) With leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 13, 5l behind The Jobber (9-1) at Haydock 5f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.
Smokin Beau 14-1 (8-2) Prominent, driven over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Sierra Vista (9-3) at Haydock 5f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sept.
Graze On 14-1 (8-8) Tracked winner to halfway, soon ridden, weakened 2f out, last of 8, 8l behind Maltese Falcon (9-1) at Lingfield 6f hcap (3) pol.
Harry Up 8-1 (8-9) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 11, 7l behind Connect (8-9) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Tartatartufata 9-4 (8-12) Led early, chased leader, hung right 3f out, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Night Prospector (8-12) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Rare Cross (IRE) 11-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden halfway, never dangerous, 7th of 9, 8l behind Little Edward (9-0) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Brandywell Boy (IRE) 11-2 (8-11) In touch, effort over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Perfect Story (8-11) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
