held up, headway and in 7th when fell 3 out
with leader, weakened approaching 2 out
held up and keen, weakened after 4 out
held up and keen, weakened after 4 out
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in touch, weakened approaching last
held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, in 3rd and held when blundered last
held up, pushed along after 4 out, never dangerous
held up, pushed along after 4th, hit next, weakened 4 out
held up mid-division, every chance approaching 2 out, led last, edged left run-in, driven out
held up, keen, jumped left and led 2nd, headed on bend approaching 4th, weakened from 5th, pulled up 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
led, headed 2nd, led again on bend approaching 4th, headed last, kept on flat
No surprise to see a keen entry for this contest and AGGRAVATION is the answer to it with Dumitas and Amanda Carter others for the shortlist. Chris Grant's horses have been in good nick of late and the former David Elsworth charge ran a solid race at Market Rasen on his latest outing. Campbell Gillies appears an inspired booking. Tony McCoy will be on Dumitas. The Irish raider was a ready winner of a Roscommon bumper on fast ground though has experience of give underfoot. Richard Fahey has two in. Amanda Carter was a useful sort on the level and had she not made a mistake at the last in a Musselburgh event, she could well have taken the prize. Brian Hughes elects to ride her ahead of High Ambition. A winner of four starts on the level, he proved easy to back at Aintree last time out. Mister Wall Street hacked up in a Haydock bumper on debut so has to be noted closely in the market. Emirate Isle seemed to cope with cut in the ground on the flat so makes some appeal of the likely outsiders. Young Anthony's first experience at Sedgefield suggested that he needed it badly and one can be confident that he will come on for the run. Takween was a winner of a Navan maiden on the flat for Kevin Prendergast. Although disappointed on hurdling debut for Howard Johnson, that represented his first visit to the racecourse for quite some time. Plenty of future winners but we chance Aggravation today.
Aggravation 10-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure to go 3rd last, no impression, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Charlie Tipple (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Dumitas (FR) 9-4 (12-0) Prominent, closer in 2nd approaching straight, led and quickened clear from 2f out, stayed on well, easily, won at Tipperary 2m N H flat gf in Oct beating Carrie Bradshaw (11-9) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Emirate Isle 50-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, weakened approaching 4 out, 9th of 12, well behind Thumbs Up (11-7) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Great Vintage (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 15th of 16, well behind Quantitativeeasing (11-0) at Newcastle 2m NH Maiden Hurdle (4-6yo) (5) gs in Nov.
High Ambition 25-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened after last, 5th of 12, 23l behind Sitting Tennant (11-8) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Mister Wall Street (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, 40l behind Spring Jim (10-12) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Piccolo Pride 28-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, chased winner from 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 13, 31l behind High Stand Lad (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Takween (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up, some headway on outside approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 43l behind Skylancer (11-8) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Young Anthony 8-1 (11-2) Prominent, weakened 4f out, 8th of 11, well behind Benny Be Good (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Nov.
Amanda Carter 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, challenged 3 out, ridden and every chance when wandered and mistake last, kept on to press winner flat, held near finsih, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Annie May (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Amber May 50-1 (10-13) Led after 4f and raced keen, clear after 6f, headed 6f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, well behind Brackenmoss (10-13) at Newcastle 2m 5yo nhf (5) sft in Jan '08.
Eagles Benefit (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Never better than mid-division, 8th of 16, 38l behind Cool Quest (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl 80-95 hvy in Nov.
Rose Street (IRE) 5-1fav (9-4) Ridden and headway over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 6l behind Moonquake (9-4) at York 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in May (flat).
