mid-division, reminders after 3rd, weakened and behind 5th, tailed off
always towards rear, tailed off
prominent, led 6th, ridden before 2 out, joined last, soon headed, one pace and no impression on winner flat
mid-division, headway 5th, jumped big next, weakened soon after, tailed off
chased leaders, reminders before 4th, weakened and behind soon after, tailed off
held up towards rear, good headway before 5th, chased leaders next, went 2nd going well after 3 out, edged slightly left before next, challenged and upsides last, led and slight peck soon after, soon clear, comfortably
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, led soon after, hit 5th, headed next, weakened after 3 out
in touch until 5th, soon towards rear, tailed off
not fluent 1st, behind, ridden and struggling 5th, behind and blundered next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, riiden before 5th, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, some headway before 2 out, never on terms, tailed off
led until after 1st, prominent, 3rd from 3 out, one pace and no chance with leading duo
in rear, hit 5th, pushed along before 4 out, stayed on to poor 4th after next, tailed off
in rear, ridden and struggling before 5th, modest headway, never on terms, tailed off
Salpierre is likely to prove very hard to beat here under a penalty gained for cruising to success at Southwell. He's surely very well treated still and, with improvement likely, deserves to start favourite. However, he faces a very interesting rival in IT'S A DATE and we'll take a chance on Alan King's horse. This gelding managed to win a flat handicap off 83 in early summer, when a switch to positive tactics worked wonders, and his trainer suggests that he should do better as a second-season hurdler. If his jumping issues have been ironed out and similar tactics work in this code then he could prove very nicely treated. To add intrigue here is Jeanry, a winner without a penalty after his jockey eased-down at Bangor. It's good to see the young pilot given a chance to redeem himself and he'd be a popular winner, but he's been found a race in which two look potentially thrown-in.
Baynes Cross (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway when hit 4th, went 2nd after 7th, no impression after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, left clear last, won at Stratford 2m 3f cnd/am sll hdl (5) gs in Oct beating Nouailhas (10-9) by 8l, 12 ran.
Perkin Warbeck 12-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 15, 28l behind Guydus (10-13) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Tom O'Tara 6-1 (10-12) Held up, headway after 3rd, chased leaders 4 out, stayed on same pace under pressure from next, jumped right last, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Park Lane (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Washango (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway on outside after 6th, every chance 3 out, weakened next, mistake last, 5th of 10, 33l behind Riverscape (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Tiger Dream 16-1 (11-5) Towards rear, ridden approaching 4th, always behind, 5th of 13, 30l behind Amuse Me (10-11) at Towcester 2m 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Salpierre (IRE) 7-2fav (11-3) Held up in touch in rear, jumped slowly 2nd, headway after 6th, challenged next, led after 3 out, in command last, stayed on well, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd beating Spice Bar (10-0) by 4l, 10 ran.
It's A Date 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, some headway when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 15, 25l behind Dr Livingstone (10-12) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (3) gf in Dec.
French Ties (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, short lived effort 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled before next, in a race won by Liz's Dream (10-0) at Newcastle 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
Pikasso (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out, 5th of 11, 25l behind Habbie Simpson (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Red Perfection 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Easter Legend (11-12) at Ascot 2m 6f mares hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov '09.
Royaume Bleu (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 13, 29l behind Nulato (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Jeanry (FR) 4-1 (10-11) Led, clear before 2 out, ridden approaching last, eased right down final 75 yards and headed close home, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Monsieur (10-3) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (4) sft.
Baby Car (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, never troubled leaders, 6th of 10, 26l behind Just Beware (10-5) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Lisdonagh House (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) In rear, lost place from 3rd, soon tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Rolecarr (11-4) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy.
