chased leaders, led 10th, strongly pressed from 4 out, narrowly headed final 150 yards, rallied gamely to regain lead final stride
held up in rear, some headway 4 out, no impression and beaten after next
led to 10th, chased leader to next, weakened quickly before 4 out
held up and behind, steady headway to track leaders 11th, challenged 4 out, driven to lead narrowly final 150 yards, caught final stride
tracked leaders, chased winner 11th to 4 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, blundered and almost unseated rider, dropped to rear 6th, soon struggling
always behind, lost touch 9th, tailed off next
in touch, ridden to challenge from 4 out, chased leading pair and every chance 3 out until outpaced between last 2
chased leader to 11th, weakened before 4 out, beaten when blundered next
We think that this could revolve around the top three in the weights, namely. Young Collier, Duchamp and Mark Equal, with the vote going to Mark Equal. The selection won here over two-and-a-half miles in November but has been beaten and a little disappointing in three starts since. However, he was not ridden to best effect at Folkestone last time and a return to hold-up tactics over a shorter trip could prove the answer. We will stick with that theory anyway. Duchamp has an obvious chance as he is still five pounds below a previous winning mark, and returned from more than a year off to finish a very good second to Great Travel here over a slightly shorter trip last time. Young Collier won well over course and distance last time on his chasing debut and, while he has the scope to do well fencing, the two others mentioned might hold a little too much experience for him today. Turning to the others and Arctic Spirit might find the three pounds he has been raised for his latest win - for which he is three pounds worse off for the length-and-a-quarter he beat Dun An Doras - counting against him, and Captain's Table does not look well handicapped with Duchamp if you use Kalca Mome as the yardstick. Gazump looked progressive before the step up in class at Cheltenham found him out last time, while the others maybe need career bests also if they are to score. With a number of them lightly raced, this could yet be achieved but, for today, we are happy to side with Mark Equal.
