led, mistake 2nd, headed next, chased leader, led again 5 out, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway under pressure approaching 5 out, every chance 3 out, outpaced from next
mid-division, headway 9th, went 2nd 5 out, led 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat
mid-division, headway 9th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, headway when mistake 4 out, joined leaders next, every chance last, kept on near finish
prominent, ridden 10th, mistake 4 out, soon beaten
held up, stayed on from 2 out, jumped left last, never dangerous
led 3rd, hit 7th, headed 5 out, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 11th, no chance when mistake 3 out
in touch, headway 4 out, joined leaders 3 out, pushed along to lead approaching last, ridden, stayed on flat
mid-division, fell 3rd
held up in touch, ridden 5 out, soon struggling
held up, hampered and brought down 3rd
held up, not fluent 2nd, blundered 6th, weakened approaching 4 out
In a competitive start to the day, we side with Desailly over Spring Grove, Prominent Profile and Ifni du Luc. The selection is a course and distance winner who ran well from today's mark when third over course and distance on his last run. He travelled well for a long way that day and is fully entitled to be competitive from his current mark. Despite never having won over this far, Spring Grove has every chance of doing so on breeding and might just find some improvement if patiently ridden by Andrew Thornton. He has the edge over Prominent Profile based on their Warwick runs over two-and-a-half mile in December, but Nigel Twiston-Davies' gelding is proven at the trip and has been holding his form pretty well this season. Ifni du Luc comes into the argument based on his Kempton win from a six-pound lower mark last time on his first run of the season and there is no doubt that, conceivably, he remains well-handicapped. Of the others, Rum Pointer is on the up, while Wave Rock is thrown in on the best of his 2000/2001 form but has been below par so far this year. Lord 'N' Master ran well at Sandown last time, although he has a six-pound rise in the ratings to defy if he is to score here. Bee And Bee has shown promise in novice events and is at least at the right end of the weights, while Mr Cospector's winning run came to a halt courtesy of the handicapper last time. The 2001 Martell Grand National runner-up, Smarty, will also attract supporters but he may find one or two too good for him here. Overall, then, in a competitive affair, we will side with Desailly.
