held up, steady headway after 3 out, ridden to chase winner after next, one pace flat
held up in touch, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, soon weakened
in touch, led 2nd to after 4th, lost place 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
tracked leaders, headway 4th, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, one pace
led to 2nd, tracked leader, led again after 4th, ridden approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat
chased leaders, pecked 5th, outpaced 3 out, ridden and rallied from next, hung right under pressure flat, not reached winner
Nonrunner
The Masareti Kid has disappointed in his last two starts but would have claims on earlier form, including on a similarly testing surface but Another Taipan looks to be well treated and is preferred ahead of Little Task. The selection is set to go up 11lbs in future handicaps following an improved display on soft ground at Perth last time and a reproduction of his effort that day may well suffice in this company. Alexander Sapphire is hard to recommend on recent evidence and of more interest may be Washington Pink, who has slipped to favourable mark but again has not threatened the judge for some time. John Wainwright's Little Task has bits and pieces of form, including on a soft surface, that gives him a chance but Another Taipan looks to be ahead of the handicapper and he gets the vote.
Little Task 28-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, 6th of 11, 26l behind Etoile Russe (10-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Celtic Vision (IRE) 22-1 (11-3) Soon behind, mistake 3rd, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Master Papa (11-6) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd, 14 ran.
Alexander Sapphire (IRE) 50-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, mistake last, 8th of 11, 13l behind Canni Thinkaar (10-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
The Masareti Kid (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Mistake 2nd, mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, weakened from next, 8th of 18, 28l behind Burren Moonshine (10-11) at Perth 3m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Rosadare (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Behind, headway to go poor 3rd approaching 3 out, 3rd of 9, 37l behind Buster (11-7) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp hdl 0-90 (F) hvy in Nov.
Washington Pink (IRE) 18-1 (10-9) Always behind, struggling from 7th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Perfect Balance (11-6) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Jan, 16 ran.
Purr 33-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 15, 23l behind Scarface (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl (5) gd.
Another Taipan (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Raced keenly, in touch, headway 3 out, led briefly next, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure flat, 2nd of 8, 2l behind The Royal Dub (10-12) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
