held up towards rear, smooth headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, kept on
held up, effort approaching 3 out, weakening when blundered 2 out
chased leader, led approaching 4 out, headed 2 out, one pace approaching last
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon chasing winner, no impression
chased leaders, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, pushed along 5th, never dangerous
mid-division, outpaced approaching 3 out, no impression
in touch, every chance 2 out, mistake last, one pace
led, headed approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next
mid-division, behind from halfway
held up towards rear, lost place approaching 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
A terrible contest where keeping your wallet snapped shut is the best advice but if you really want a selection then the suggestion is Intersky Music, with Breaking Shadow respected. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained selection has the most solid form to bring to the party here but is a massive 18lb higher than his best winning performance. He has gone well enough from higher marks than that though, without winning, and trip, ground and course all suit, so with 8lb taken off his back here we'll chance him. Breaking Shadow won last time out in a Catterick selling handicap hurdle, so he is hardly one to empty out the piggy bank on from a 12lb higher mark and is opposed. Red Birr is a one pacer who needs a drop and you are clutching at straws with the rest of them, so Intersky Music is a most tentative of selections.
Breaking Shadow (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, led before last, stayed on, won at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd beating Coronado's Gold (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 17 ran.
Red Birr (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on 2 out, mistake last, no further impression, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Popcorn Rosie (10-4) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Top Achiever (IRE) 100-1 (11-1) Chased leaders to 6th, soon behind, 15th of 17, 43l behind Joan's Girl (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov '06.
Intersky Music (USA) 9-2jt-fav (10-11) Held up mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Palomar (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Working Late 16-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden when blundered and unseated rider 5 out in race won by Deep Quest (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Nov, 10 ran.
Weet A Head (IRE) 50-1 (10-8) Held up, never dangerous, 9th of 17, 31l behind Zirkel (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Monashee Grey (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 14, 31l behind Dead Mans Dante (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Always Baileys (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, well behind Primitive Academy (11-3) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
Shaamit The Vaamit (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Chased leader to 3rd, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 18, 49l behind Rapscallion (11-5) at Kempton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Cleopatras Therapy (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Mendosino (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft, 15 ran.
Safin (GER) 66-1 (11-3) Chased leader 3rd, weakened after 4 out, well behind when fell 4 out in race won by Rapscallion (11-5) at Kempton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Dark Society 18-1 (10-6) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden when hit 2 out, no extra, 5th of 17, 18l behind Zirkel (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Rojabaa 33-1 (10-11) Reluctant to start, in rear and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Primitive Academy (11-3) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf, 15 ran.
