with leader, led 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace approaching last
tracked leaders, driven and outpaced after 4 out, weakened from next, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, stayed on to challenge when blundered last, every chance flat, just held
in touch on outside, lost place after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
raced keenly, held up behind, outpaced 4 out, never able to challenge
behind, reminders after 3rd, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, headway to challenge 3 out, led next, soon driven, kept on under pressure flat, just held on
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, 4th when hit next, soon ridden, rallied flat, switched right and ran on well towards finish, just failed
led to 4th, with leader, every chance when hit 3 out, soon lost place, no impression from next
Nonrunner
Knight In Purple has claims of following up his recent win but the handicapper has been harsh in raising him 20lbs, so we'll side with LONG DISTANCE, whilst Wave Power is another to consider. Lucinda Russell's gelding stayed on nicely to take third last time behind a well backed and ultimately well handicapped rival. That came on soft ground but today's slightly quicker surface should pose no problem, with the only real concern being whether he's the speed to win over this trip as a step up in trip has often looked required. Still, he remains on a mark of 107 following that effort and just gets our vote. Knight In Purple won well last time but whether he deserves this hike in the weights must be open to debate. He's another for whom a step up in distance surely wouldn't go amiss but for the time being he's kept to this trip; we're taking him on. Wave Power has plenty of weight but it's fair to say connections had hoped he'd turn out better than this rating, so there's some chance he may begin to fulfil his potential with this ground in his favour. Jeronimo Joe has won a race and remains unexposed but this mark is perhaps a shade high, whilst Samizdat keeps climbing the weight in defeat and looks worth taking on. Marsool has been beaten a long way of late and may be worth leaving alone until getting his favoured quick ground, so in a race where few have solid credentials we'll take Long Distance to come out on top.
Wave Power (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Ran in snatches, in rear, hit 3rd, headway 6th, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, 4th of 11, 10l behind Empty Sky (11-9) at Catterick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Long Distance (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Hi Dancer (11-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Jeronimo Joe 40-1 (10-11) Raced keenly, close up on outside, 5th and outpaced when mistake 3 out, no impression from next, 6th of 11, 44l behind Bygones Of Brid (11-8) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) sft.
Nonotreally 11-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Bob's Dream (11-6) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Marsool 20-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, led until after 1st, not fluent and led next, dived at 3rd, soon headed, stayed pressing until approaching 6th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Ciceron (11-7) at Bangor 2m 1f 4yo nov hcp hdl (3) gs.
Hard To Name 100-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out, 8th of 13, 18l behind Bishops Heir (11-4) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Samizdat (FR) 2-1fav (11-2) Led to 5th, remained close up, blundered 3 out, kept on to take 2nd flat, always held, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Mardood (10-2) at Catterick 2m 3f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs.
Solway Blue 20-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place approaching 2 out, 10th of 12, well behind Mesbaah (10-12) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Zelos Diktator 100-1 (10-2) Tracked leader to 2nd, lost place approaching 4th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 12, 35l behind Troubletimestwo (10-1) at Doncaster 2m cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) gd.
Knight In Purple 33-1 (10-4) Held up in touch, went 2nd approaching 4 out, ridden and hit 2 out, led approaching last, driven out, won at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd beating Overturn (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 18 ran.
