led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, 1 length down last, driven and kept on again close home
tracked leaders, blundered badly 3rd, soon behind, beaten when pulled up 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened from last
mid-division, went prominent 4th, led 3 out, ridden next, kept on
mid-division, ridden and beaten when blundered badly 3 out
prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
always behind
always behind, pulled up before 4 out
prominent, ridden after 4 out, gradually weakened
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden and beaten from 3 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, kept on from next
mid-division, headway to track leaders 4 out, ridden next, weakened from approaching last
towards rear, headway to track leaders 4 out, ridden next, kept on one pace
STROBE's 10lb claimer helps give him a nice racing weight but the jockey rode him last time as well so he still has a 5lb penalty to carry today. That might not be enough to stop him however and he is selected ahead of Royal Flynn and Morning Sunshine. Not an awful lot of recent winning form in the line-up, but at least the selection comes here in good nick. He won nicely at the track last time when seeing off Danish Rebel and although that win coincided with a step up in trip, the return to this distance is not expected to cause any problems. Grand Art is unexposed over hurdles; he was rated in the 70's on the level but his form over hurdles has not been up to much and despite a drop in the weights he is hard to fancy. Perhaps of more interest then is Ella Woodcock who makes his handicap bow today; his runs in Novice and Maiden hurdles has resulted in him being allotted a mark of 94, just 16lbs higher than his flat rating on the turf. Brian's Journey is another handicap debutant and he showed more ability last time at Wetherby, whilst horses such as Beau Largesse, Ormus and Chief Scout are all more exposed. Royal Flynn and Morning Sunshine come here in better form and each warrants a very prominent position on any shortlist, however in a tricky race it is Strobe who can shine brightest.
Strobe 16-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, led 3rd until headed 6th and stayed prominent, ridden 3 out, hit next and driven to lead again flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd beating Danish Rebel (10-7) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Quinder Spring (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Held up, chased leaders 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 15, 13l behind Mighty Moon (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Morning Sunshine (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, 1 length down and chased winner next, soon one pace, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Doeslessthanme (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Ormus 14-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, never dangerous, 10th of 14, well behind Victorias Groom (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Solis (GER) 66-1 (11-4) Held up, always behind, 10th of 16, well behind Steady Tiger (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Chief Scout 7-1 (11-12) In touch, effort when not fluent 3 out, outpaced when blundered next, soon weakened, 5th of 13, 14l behind Well Disguised (10-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Royal Flynn 3-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway 5 out, left chasing leading pair 4 out, ridden and every chance when not fluent last, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Naughty By Nature (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Titinius (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, weakened from 4 out, 7th of 11, 43l behind Abstinence (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Ella Woodcock (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakening when blundered last, 6th of 14, 21l behind Fortysecond Street (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Brian's Journey 40-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, steady headway from 4 out, soon chasing leaders, jumped left last, kept on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 24l behind Abstinence (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Grand Art (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Always in rear, tailed off, 9th of 18, well behind Well Disguised (10-11) at Doncaster 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Beau Largesse 20-1 (11-0) In touch, effort 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from next, 5th of 20, 10l behind Elite Land (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Ice Image (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, effort 4 out to next, weakened 2 out, 11th of 20, 30l behind Elite Land (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Farne Island 25-1 (10-1) Held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, ridden and blundered next, soon one pace, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Kyber (10-5) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
