in touch, tracked winner 4th, challenged 3 out, beat narrowly next, ridden and headed last, kept on, held near finish
led, headed 2 out, soon ridden, rallied to lead again last, stayed on under pressure flat
chased leaders, reminders 3rd, ridden outpaced from 3 out
tracked winner to 4th, remained in touch, outpaced 4 out, ridden when mistake next, no impression when approaching last
in touch, stumbled and fell 4th
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, behind when jumped badly left from 2 out
hit 1st, chased leaders, hit 3rd, weakened 3 out
raced keenly mid-division, headway and in touch 5th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
held up and behind, some headway when hit 3 out, never able to challenge
behind, headway approaching 3 out, kept on from next, never nearer
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, driven and stayed on from next, never trouble leaders
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, lost place 5th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
The three main contenders in this opener are First Look, Harmony Brig and Alfred The Great with the vote going to the last named. Looking for his hat-trick after impressive wins at Sandown and Kelso, Alfred The Great looks a horse to keep on the right side of and with connections not aiming too high he looks very much capable of winning once again. First Look has improved with each and every run to date and did so to win third time of asking last time out at Kelso beating a string of nice horses. He looks on the upgrade but being a six year old carries more weight than some of his other rivals and that could burden his chances of following up. Harmony Brig is another older horse and at the age of seven broke his maiden tag at Ayr last time out. He is lightly raced though and was eye catching when a very good second behind The Cool Guy at Haycock on his penultimate start so is one to note in the betting market. But for the winner we return to Alfred The Great.
First Look (FR) 7-4 (11-2) Held up in touch, headway 3 out, led last, ran on strongly, won at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (E) gs in Dec beating Nae Bother At All (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
Harmony Brig (IRE) 2-9fav (11-5) Made all, mistake 4 out, ridden next, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m nh mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Kilmackilloge (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Planters Punch (IRE) 9-2 (11-13) Held up in touch, effort 4 out, weakened from next, 7th of 8, well behind Ballyjohnboy Lord (11-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Alfred The Great (IRE) 5-2co-fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, headway when left in lead 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at Kelso 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Jan beating Lysander (11-5) by 5l, 15 ran.
Arctic Cove 33-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened between last 2, 8th of 15, 20l behind First Look (11-2) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (E) gs in Dec.
Belter 11-2 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, ridden 3f out, soon no extra, 6th of 8, 35l behind Jeringa (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn nhf (H) sft in Feb '05.
Bobbing Cove Bob's Return gelding, half-brother to hurdles and chase winners.
Calculaite 16-1 (10-12) Behind, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 19, 28l behind Border Castle (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Dispol Peto 28-1 (9-3) Behind and outpaced, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 10l behind Set Alight (9-8) at Southwell 7f stk (F3) fbs (Flat).
Gala Sunday (USA) 100-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, 14th of 23, well behind Whispered Promises (11-5) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Great Approach (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened 2 out, 5th of 17, 23l behind Hard Act To Follow (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Mr Attitude 200-1 (11-5) In touch until weakened halfway, 10th of 15, well behind Alfred The Great (10-12) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Phantom Major (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Towads rear, never dangerous, 8th of 14, 36l behind Money Trix (11-5) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Ring The Boss (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, tracked leaders 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 13, 11l behind Zeitgeist (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Saros (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Soon led, ridden over 2f out, hung left over 1f out and headed, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 11l behind King After (8-5) at Musselburgh 1m hcp (6) gd in Sept (Flat).
Super Revo 50-1 (11-4) Mid-division, reminders, lost place 6th, behind from 3 out, 6th of 12, well behind Stagecoach Diamond (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft.
Deep Rising 66-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up, mistake 6th, ridden 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Diklers Rose (11-1) at Wetherby 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 5 ran.
Cabopino Lad (USA) 50-1 (10-9) Held up, headway to chase leaders 3 out, soon ridden and weakened next, 11th of 15, well behind No Commission (10-12) at Catterick 2m 4yo nov sll hdl (5) gd in Jan.
