held up in touch, ridden and outpaced from 2 out
held up, headway 5th, challenged 2 out, every chance last, kept on flat
held up in touch, pushed along 5th, outpaced from next
with leader, ridden after 3 out, every chance 2 out, jumped last 2 slow, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, stayed on under pressure
in touch, behind and struggling from 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, ridden and outpaced after 3 out
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened next
A low key start to proceedings and Seafire Lad rates the percentage pick ahead of Winds Supreme and Heisse. The selection is a previous course-and-distance winner and while that did come off a substantially lower mark, his recent run was fair given that it was a non-seller and with cheekpieces and tongue tie back on, hopes are high of a revival. Winds Supreme is proven on the ground and will be a difficult nut to crack. That said, his recent effort at Newcastle was disappointing and his consistency is very much open to question. Heisse has never been able to live up to his ability on the flat but cannot be discounted. Ian Williams' yard have had a couple of winners of late and the handler is more than capable of landing prizes at this level. Mystery landed a Boxing Day gamble two years ago for Tom George but is probably best watched on a return from almost 18 months off the course. Hopeful Chance looks best of the rest but would need to reverse form with our selection in order to hold any chance. This is a poor race but Seafire Lad looks to have less negatives than most.
Mystery (GER) 5-1 (10-10) Behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Lady Racquet (11-6) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in May '05, 14 ran.
Winds Supreme (IRE) 11-4fav (11-1) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 12, 20l behind Baffling Secret (10-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Worlaby Dale 66-1 (10-13) Led to 6th, lost place approaching 9th, went remote 3rd last, 3rd of 6, 34l behind Iris's Gift (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov chs (B) gd in Sept '05.
Heisse 16-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, 11th of 16, 48l behind Win A Rose (11-0) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Seafire Lad (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, every chance 3 out, ridden and one pace from next, 4th of 12, 11l behind Baffling Secret (10-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Hopeful Chance (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Held up, lost place and reminders after 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 22l behind Baffling Secret (10-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Gappersonneldotcom (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) In touch, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakening when fell 2 out in race won by Pilca (10-12) at Ludlow 2m cnd sll hdl (5) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Ahaz 150-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 10, well behind Day To Remember (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs.
