held up, headway 3 out, one pace approaching last
held up mid-division, weakened 4 out
held up, hampered 4th, weakened approaching 9th
prominent, ridden and weakened last
close up, led 8th, ridden approaching last, kept on well
led to 8th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, every chance last, no extra flat
tracked leaders, fell 4th
held up, headway on inner after 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on
held up, headway after 3 out, pushed along next, one pace from last
chased leaders, reminders approaching 7th, weakened approaching last
FRITH is preferred here with the drop in trip not a concern; Persian Prince joins Mischief Man and Troodos Jet on the list of dangers. The selection returns from a 200 day break however Lucy Normille's gelding was in fair form when last seen, signing off with a fourth-place finish behind Major Miller. That was in a better race at Perth and with this drop in grade and trip in his favour he looks likely to run well. Whatcanyasay is a course and distance winner who returns to fences this afternoon however his form has been weak, so a bigger threat may be Mischief Man who ran with credit on his reppearance at Worcester and may be happier back in the north. Persian Prince bumped into a well-handicapped rival at Newcastle last time out and this former point-to-pointer rates an obvious player on that form, as does Troodos Jet on his fourth at Hexham last time. Barton Sun has a little to prove but is now dangerously well-handicapped, whilst top-weight Cordier may improve for the switch to fences this afternoon. An open affair once again, and we tentatively side with Frith.
Cordier 14-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, weakened after 3 out, 14th of 16, 49l behind Alfloramoor (11-1) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Feb.
Clarricien (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Steadied start, headway to mid-division after 3rd, not fluent 5th, not fluent and ridden 7th, well beaten before 4 out, stayed on to go modest 4th flat, 4th of 10, 23l behind Zorro De La Vega (10-12) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Oct.
Frith (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Prominent, outpaced 4 out, one pace next, 4th of 8, 17l behind Major Miller (10-13) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Whatcanyasay 14-1 (11-9) Promient, not fluent 2nd, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Pugnacity (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 5f cond nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Sep, 11 ran.
Braddock Island 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, every chance when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 31l behind Bob's Dream (11-5) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Persian Prince (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 10th, held in 2nd when mistake 2 out, weakened approaching last, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Chapel Flowers (11-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Mischief Man 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 7th, chased winner 4 out until 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 12, 18l behind Legends Lass (10-11) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-85 (5) gs in Oct.
Hair of The Dog 100-1 (10-9) Prominent, lost place 5th, soon beaten, 8th of 10, 44l behind Los Nadis (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov '07.
Barton Sun (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Always towards rear, 10th of 12, 44l behind Panthers Run (10-6) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Oct.
Troodos Jet 9-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway 2 out, chased leading pair between last 2, ridden last, one pace, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 11, 6l behind Duke of Malfi (11-2) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Fencote Mystery 10-1 (10-3) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 11, 18l behind Duke of Malfi (11-2) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
