chased leaders, ridden halfway, led briefly inside final furlong, no extra
close up, outpaced halfway, switched right, ridden and stayed on final furlong
slowly into stride, always outpaced
with leader, led over 3f out until over 2f out
prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra final furlong
slowly into stride, soon chased leaders over 3f
slowly into stride, outpaced, switched left over 1f out, kept on, never dangerous
with leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace
soon with leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
soon pushed along in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
close up, led halfway, headed, no extra inside final furlong
Not the easiest of starts for punters and Mac The Knife is a tentative selection to beat Comic Tales and Soul Provider. Mac The Knife returned from a four month holiday to finish an excellent third behind Secret Vision over course and distance last month and looks set to improve on that effort. The booking of Eddie Ahern also looks significant and he looks the one to be on. Soul Provider was well beaten at Wolverhampton last time but has decent form here in the past and may sneak into the places at a decent price. However the main threat to the selection could be Comic Tales. This son of Mind Games has a bit to find with Soul Provider on turf form but seems to be a better horse on the all-weather. If fit after a bit of a holiday he should go close. In a very tricky contest Mr Spliffy can also be given some sort of a chance, but Mac The Knife will have been sharpened up by that recent run and could collect today.
A Teen 12-1 (8-11) Held up, ridden headway over 2f out, effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 16, 11l behind Sergeant Slipper (8-11) at Yarmouth 6f stk (7) gd in Apr.
Comic Tales 25-1 (8-12) Raced stand side, started slowly, soon in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 17, 6l behind Soul Provider (8-12) at Nottingham 6f stk (7) gd in May.
Levelled 16-1 (8-11) Chased leaders to halfway, 11th of 12, 15l behind Secret Vision (8-11) at Southwell 5f Stks (36-40) (7) fbs in Nov.
Mac The Knife (IRE) 25-1 (8-4) Prominent, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Secret Vision (8-11) at Southwell 5f Stks (36-40) (7) fbs in Nov.
Mr Spliffy (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Towards rear, pushed along halfway, some late headway, 6th of 12, 6l behind Secret Vision (8-11) at Southwell 5f Stks (36-40) (7) fbs in Nov.
Off Hire 5-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, driven halfway, weakened final furlong, 8th of 12, 8l behind Secret Vision (8-11) at Southwell 5f Stks (36-40) (7) fbs in Nov.
Soul Provider (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 3f out, last of 12, 35l behind Young Kate (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 1f stk (7) pol in Oct.
Straffan (IRE) 14-1 (8-8) Towards rear, never dangerous, 13th of 14, 16l behind Shadow Jumper (9-0) at Southwell 6f stk (7) fbs in Oct.
