mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace, no impression
in touch, headway 3 out, went 2nd before next, led last, ridden and stayed on well flat
held up towards rear, ridden 2 out, never dangerous
raced keenly, led after 1st, headed after 3rd, soon behind, tailed off
tracked leaders, headway to lead before 2 out, headed last, ridden and kept on same pace flat
mid-division, chased leaders after 3 out, ridden next, no impression approaching last
chased leaders, stumbled and lost place 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
behind, mistake 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
pulled hard, soon tracked leader, led after 3rd, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden next, stayed on to go 3rd after last, no impression with first 2
behind, headway before 2 out, kept on, no impression
led to after 1st, chased leaders, weakened 3 out
towards rear, reminders 4th, weakened next, pulled up after 3 out
slowly away, raced keenly, towards rear, tailed off
High Standard is tentatively put forward as he's likely to run his race this afternoon but there are a few potential dangers lurking in the field. John Spearing's seven year-old has taken a while to get the hang of things but he ran two sound races at Ludlow in February and a similar performance this afternoon should see him in the mix. Wait For The Light and Woodcraft were both fair performers on the Flat and better in that sphere than Contemplation but the latter is certainly in the right hands. Tucker will appreciate this better ground and tighter track having struggled at Wetherby but of more interest are Cool Operator and Ice Image. Ice Image has shown ability in bumpers and is worth a second look on his hurdling bow but Cool Operator has the benefit of a run over hurdles to his name. He was favourite to win a hotly contested Aintree bumper on debut but flopped and was then beaten a long way on his hurdling bow. He may well be a cut above some of his rivals but he still has to do it on the track so we'll come back to High Standard for the winner.
Contemplation 6-1 (10-7) Held up behind, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, never troubled leaders, 6th of 15, 5l behind Gala Sunday (10-1) at Redcar 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (6) gd in Oct (Flat).
Cool Operator 15-2 (11-4) Soon tracking leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 8, 26l behind Rightway Star (11-10) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Diktatorial 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway to lead 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, soon headed and weakened, 8th of 15, 12l behind Platin Grounds (10-12) at Perth 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Feelin Irie (IRE) 150-1 (11-3) Held up, pulled hard, headway after 2nd, lost place 4th, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Rippling Ring (11-3) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
High Standard (NZ) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, close up when mistake 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 15, 7l behind Hibiki (10-13) at Ludlow 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Ice Image (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, one pace, 4th of 13, 12l behind Touch of Irish (11-10) at Newcastle 2m nhf (6) gs in Feb.
Island King (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Chased leaders to 4th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before last pulled up 3 out in race won by Cromwell Court (11-3) at Hexham 2m nh mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb '07, 11 ran.
Rainbow Zest 50-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Best Prospect (11-3) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb, 15 ran.
The Real Alydaly (IRE) 150-1 (10-10) Held up, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 15, 41l behind Best Prospect (11-3) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Tucker 15-2 (11-3) Led, headed 5th, ridden, weakened from 3 out, blundered 2 out, left remote 4th last, 4th of 9, 43l behind Lazy Darren (10-7) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Little Lily Morgan 200-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, reminders 4th, soon lost place, tailed off 3 out, 15th of 18, 45l behind Blue Bajan (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Loch Awe 125-1 (10-13) Always behind, 13th of 16, well behind Puy d'Arnac (11-3) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Dec.
College Land Boy 250-1 (10-7) Always behind, weakened from 4th, 12th of 15, well behind Best Prospect (11-3) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Wait For The Light 10-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, soon ridden and led after 2f, ridden 5f out, lost touch over 3f out, soon tailed off, last of 7, well behind La Estrella (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct (Flat).
Woodcraft 9-2 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened from 3 out, soon beaten, 7th of 9, 19l behind Act Sirius (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Overbay 125-1 (8-12) Always in rear, ridden over 4f out, last of 12, well behind Abydos (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) sft in Oct (Flat).
