mid-division, headway 5th, weakened 3 out
held up, pulled hard, headway 4th, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
mistakes, chased leader, lost 2nd after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up after 2 out
led, jumped right 6th and 7th, headed 2 out, weakened flat
tracked leaders, held when not much room on inside bend before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, outpaced after 6th, no impression after
held up in rear, mistakes 5th and 6th, behind next, tailed off
held up, raced keenly, headway 6th, went 2nd after next, led 2 out, clear flat easily
held up in rear, behind 7th, virtually pulled up flat, tailed off
Roznic has been a fine advert for the yard however this mark of 114 looks a tad too high and we will side with RED LANCER who is open to more improvement as he steps back up in trip; the rest of the shortlist consists of Sky Calling, Dune Raider and Sam Whiskey. The selection is strictly held by Sky Calling on their last run behind Elaala at Hereford, however Tom George's gelding is fancied to be more competitive now back up in trip. Following a win at the testing track of Exeter, the selection then ran well behind Benhego at Fontwell in May. Dropped 2lb for his last effort, he is better off at these weights and should run well. Dune Raider is a course winner who should appreciate the drop in trip as he returns to the smaller obstacles. Olmetto Collonges is dropped in class as he stumbles down the weights, Sam Whiskey has not been unduly punished for a Wetherby win last time and must be a player if the blinkers have the same effect, whilst is one of two interesting Irish raiders who need to be watched closely in the betting, especially as this is his handicap debut. The other interesting runner from across the Irish Sea is Blaze Trailer who has the pace to cope with this trip although the handicapper on these shores is taking no chances allotting him a 13lb higher mark for this race. Course and distance winner Coltscroft was as consistent as they come when last seen in 2006 and cannot be underestimated if the market speaks in his favour, however it is Red Lancer who we feel spearheads the home challenge.
Roznic (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) Held up in the rear, mistake 12th, headway after 14th, went 3rd 4 out, weakened last, eased flat, 3rd of 9, 28l behind College Ace (11-5) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Blaze Trailer (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway in 6th after 3 out, ridden in 5th 3 out, stayed on to moderate 4th last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 15, 8l behind Third Level Tom (10-13) at Bellewstown 3m hcp hdl 0-109 gf.
Red Lancer 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division, chased leaders halfway, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 17, 12l behind Elaala (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Sky Calling 22-1 (11-1) Behind, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened flat, 6th of 17, 8l behind Elaala (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Dune Raider (USA) 14-1 (11-11) Held up, mistake 5th, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer, 5th of 12, 7l behind Wenger (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in May '08.
Olmeto Collonges (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Raced wide in touch, jumped left 1st 2, 2nd briefly before 3 out where mistake, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 46l behind Picot de Say (11-2) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Sam Whiskey (GER) 9-2 (11-9) Held up, headway 6th, ridden to lead approaching last, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May beating Lord Samposin (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Dirar (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Held up, headway approaching 5th to go prominent, weakened after 4 out, 8th of 12, well behind Carsonstown Boy (10-12) at Perth 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Coltscroft 15-2 (11-8) Held up, good headway 6th, driven and every chance 2 out, hung right approaching last, jumped left and ran on, just held, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Wee Danny (9-13) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Aug '06.
Dancing Hill 66-1 (10-3) Last and pushed along, detached after 4th, headway approaching 3 out, never reached leaders, soon beaten, 7th of 15, 41l behind Miss Phoebe (11-3) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
