mid-division, headway to track leaders after 3 out, led last and ran on well flat
mid-division, ridden after 9th, one pace after
tracked leaders, effort and lost place 9th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on approaching last
mid-division, ridden 3 out, no impression
held up towards rear, smooth headway from 8th to track leaders, ridden 3 out, soon beaten
towards rear, fell 5th
held up, ridden approaching 3 out to chase leaders, one pace after
led, ridden after 3 out, headed last, no extra run-in
tracked leader, ridden 3 out, gradually weakened
mid-division, weakened and lost touch from 8th
Mick Easterby sets something of a poser by saddling both Handa Island and We'll Meet Again but the latter is far from certain to stay this far and preference is for the former with Nobel rated the best of the remainder. The selection is a stayer, albeit not a very good one on the flat, and should be suited by the emphasis on stamina of today's trip. Len Lungo's The Weaver actually drops down in distance but has given little sign of encouragement of late, while Sue Bradburne's Powerlove would not appear to be particularly well treated for his debut in this grade. Ginger McCain's horses have been running well of late so Reem Two has to be respected but he would need to improve on recent form to trouble the judge. Martin Todhunter's Quarry Island may need another run to put him spot on and of more interest may be Malcolm Jefferson's Oscar The Boxer, who is entitled to strip fitter for his recent return at Catterick. Most of the runners from the yard of Nicky Richards have improved with racing this term so there should be more to come from Nobel but Handa Island has trip and ground to suit and he gets the vote.
Nobel (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, chased winner 3 out, in 3rd and weakeneing when hit last, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Parisienne Gale (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f ldy hcp hdl (F) gs in Nov.
Powerlove (FR) 14-1 (10-7) Tracked winner, ridden approaching 4 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Some Touch (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (F) gf in Dec.
Reem Two 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 4th of 9, 21l behind Vingis Park (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Nov.
The Weaver (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Mid-division, mistake 5th, headway 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 6th of 17, 15l behind River Mist (11-0) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Dec.
Quarry Island (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 4 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 11th of 18, 28l behind North Landing (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Dec.
Handa Island (USA) 2-1fav (11-9) Prominent, led on bit after 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed approaching last, blundered last, no extra flat, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Past Heritage (9-11) at Taunton 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf in Nov.
We'll Meet Again 3-1fav (10-8) Not fluent early and behind, headway 4 out, hampered next, ridden and no impression from 2 out, 4th of 9, 8l behind Lone Soldier (10-6) at Wetherby 2m ldy hcp hdl (F) gd in May.
Oscar The Boxer (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Led, headed 5th, led again 3 out, headed before next, weakened approaching next, 4th of 18, 7l behind North Landing (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Dec.
Durba (AUS) 33-1 (11-2) Keen, mid-division until weakened and mistake 5th, 12th of 13, well behind Giust In Temp (10-9) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (E) gf in Aug.
Bromley Abbey 25-1 (9-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last, 7th of 11, 36l behind The Names Bond (11-5) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (F) sft in Nov.
