chased leaders, challenged 2 out, no extra last
held up, headway approaching 2 out, soon challenging, no extra from last
held up in last pair, pushed along, outpaced approaching 2 out
awkward jumping off, led 1st, made virtually all after, joined and pressed from last, pushed along to assert final 100 yards
held up, headway approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2
pulled hard, held up, hit 2nd, headway to chase leaders next, chased winner from 3 out, upsides, every chance from last, found no extra, held final 100 yards
led to 1st, chased winner to 3 out, weakened soon after
chased leaders until ridden, weakened after 3 out
A poor contest to conclude proceedings and it will take a good one to lower the colours of CALZAGHE, who can jab his opponents into submission, while Bundle Up and Captain Marlon are both respected. The Jim Best-trained selection was an easy seven length scorer on soft ground at Market Rasen last time and is kept to a similar trip today. A 7lb penalty will make it tougher, but nothing else stands out off the page as clearly as his name and we will take him to follow up. Bundle Up also enjoys getting her toe in and comes here in form after a claiming hurdle success at Chepstow, although this will be tougher. Captain Marlon's sole success came on good ground, but he does act with cut and around this tight circuit, so he is not ruled out with the yard going well. The ground is perhaps a bit too slow for Kyoto, who was well beaten when falling last time, while it is also against long-standing maiden Ghaill Force. Tilly Shilling is not beyond improvement on this going given her connections, but Calzaghe can lift this particular belt.
Bundle Up 9-2 (10-0) Held up, tracked leaders after 4th, led 4 out, ridden flat, kept on under pressure, won at Chepstow 2m clm hdl (5) sft beating Gracechurch (10-13) by 1l, 11 ran.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Held up, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, remote 4th when blundered last, 5th of 8, 19l behind Red Jester (11-3) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Kyoto (GER) 7-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and outpaced next, 5th and beaten when fell heavily last, in a race won by Golden Square (9-13) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd, 11 ran.
Campfire Tales (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) In touch, pushed along 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 28l behind Pepe Simo (11-4) at Wincanton 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gs.
Won More Night 12-1 (11-2) In rear when brought down 5 out, in a race won by Bennynthejets (11-11) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
Smokincanon 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 12, 31l behind Sonic Anthem (11-5) at Stratford 2m am hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul '08.
Tilly Shilling (IRE) 11-2 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Dreams Jewel (11-0) at Stratford 2m ldys hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Oct, 13 ran.
Ghaill Force 10-1 (10-1) Held up, led 5th, not fluent next, headed approaching last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Laconicos (10-5) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Calzaghe (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Mid-division, headway and in touch 4th, led 3 out, soon in command, 12 lengths clear last, eased flat, comfortably, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft beating Go On Be A Lady (11-12) by 7l, 10 ran.
Drizzi (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, ridden into mid-field before 4th, pulled up next, in a race won by She's No Muppet (10-3) at Folkestone 2m 1f cond hcp hdl 4yo+ (5) gs in Jan, 13 ran.
