held up, stumbled approaching 4th, ridden 3 out, soon beaten
always towards rear, never dangerous
held up, headway 4th, ridden 2 out, jumped right last
mid-division, headway 3 out, hard driven to lead, run-in
chased leaders, ridden and one pace 2 out
led, ridden 2 out, blundered last, headed and no extra, run-in
towards rear, headway 3 out, kept on one pace from next
in touch, ridden halfway, soon behind
mid-division, ridden and no impression from 2 out
chased leaders, ridden and one pace from 2 out
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
Yawl Springs put up a very good effort in context last time, but lumping topweight around in this ground will be no easy task and we will side with PHOENIX ENFORCER. George Baker's three-year-old receives the age allowance here and looks well treated as a result, given his official mark of 90. He acts well on soft ground, and although he has yet to show his true colours over hurdles this is his best chance to date, so we will give him one more try. Yawl Springs makes the lengthy trip up from Philip Hobbs' stable in the south-west and was not far away over fences at Kempton in October. This minimum trip is ideal for him, but he has never gone well in this ground before and must be a doubt. Monfils Monfils is of similar ability on the level to the selection, and although he tends to run on a sound surface, he has shown that he handles cut in the past, so he is not dismissed out of hand. Emotive is 4lbs higher than when taking a similar contest here on good to soft in January, but recent efforts are not hugely encouraging and he is hard to back with confidence. Amir Pasha has shown enough form in novices' and handicap company to suggest that he could make his presence felt, and he should be able to go on the ground, while Authentic Act was a soft ground flat winner in Germany and has claims now dropped into this grade for the first time. Phoenix Enforcer is the one for us.
Yawl Springs (IRE) 9-2 (10-4) Keen, held up in rear, improved to track leaders 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, soon one pace, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Professor Higgins (11-12) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Monfils Monfils (USA) 20-1 (10-0) With leader, weakened approaching 2 out, 11th of 13, 43l behind Mcmurdo Sound (10-11) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Sep.
Emotive 25-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 9, 16l behind Hareem (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 3f clm hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Amir Pasha (UAE) 15-2 (11-2) Mid-division, pushed along 7th, ridden and kept on from last, no impression, 6th of 14, 10l behind Sea Cove (11-1) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Blue Savannah (FR) 250-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 9, 11l behind Sacrilege (11-12) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Mister Fizzbomb (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Led, headed 6th, ridden and weakened 2 out, 7th of 12, 9l behind Weststern (10-6) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Qaasi (USA) 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 21l behind White Lightening (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Phoenix Enforcer 5-2 (10-0) Chased leader, disputed after 2nd, led 5th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 7, 15l behind My Les (9-11) at Towcester 2m nov sll hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Hunting Magic 18-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, mistake 4 out, ridden and lost place next, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 47l behind Melange (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Authentic Act (IRE) 22-1 (10-10) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous, 12th of 15, 50l behind Etoile d'Or (10-2) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Troodos Jet 5-1 (10-2) Held up, headway after 3 out, pushed along next, one pace from last, 4th of 11, 5l behind Braddock Island (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Woodfield Lord (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Led, ridden and headed before 6th, soon no extra and weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Ballymak (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f mdn hdl hvy in Nov, 28 ran.
