towards rear, ridden 3 out, headway approaching next, led approaching last, driven out
always behind, blundered 4th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before last
prominent, ridden and outpaced 3 out, kept on from next
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
always behind
prominent, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
held up mid-division, mistake 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on from last
led from 3rd, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway 3 out, never on terms
chased leaders, hit 3 out, outpaced from next
prominent, pushed along 4th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, weakened 3 out
held up, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on from last
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching next
led to 3rd, chased leaders, led after 3 out, headed and hit next, soon beaten
mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, headed approaching next, kept on
A weak race can go to Beyond The Mast, who may have the most to fear from Named At Dinner and last year's winner Ball Games. The Mick Easterby-trained Approaching Land also has claims in this company, even though this trip would be on the sharp side for him these days. Watch the betting where he is concerned. Ball Games won a similar contest at Sedgefield on his penultimate start and is fairly consistent in comparison to a few of the others. However, he races off a career highest mark today and looks opposable off a 15lb higher mark than he was on when taking this last season. Named At Dinner has bits and pieces of form that give him a solid chance of going close at this level. He ran an encouraging race at Kelso earlier in the month and should make a bold bid today. Nevertheless, preference goes to Beyond The Mast, who showed that he still retains ability when winning a seller at Uttoxeter last week. Milton Harris seems to have got him back on the boil at present and, even under a 7lb penalty, this formerly useful bumper horse can make the most of a very lenient mark at present.
Ball Games 14-1 (10-8) Behind, headway after 6th, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 14, 11l behind Auetaler (10-4) at Ludlow 2m cnd sll hdl (G) gd.
Armentieres 25-1 (10-12) Disputed lead 4th, weakened before next, 7th of 12, 43l behind Andre Chenier (11-5) at Kelso 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) sft in Apr.
Named At Dinner 10-3fav (10-9) Tracked leader, led briefly 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Nuzzle (10-5) at Kelso 2m nov sll hdl (G) gs.
Approaching Land (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Close up, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, blundered last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 13l behind Chickapeakray (9-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gd.
Senor Eduardo 22-1 (10-9) Mid-division, hit 4 out soon weakened, 8th of 15, 38l behind Nuit Sombre (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (D) gd in Nov '04.
Loner 14-1 (10-6) Always behind, 9th of 12, 22l behind Celtic Legend (10-3) at Wetherby 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft.
Before The Mast (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) In touch, hit 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gs beating Maria Bonita (10-4) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Needwood Spirit 16-1 (9-7) Held up, weakened 4th, 10th of 15, well behind General Duroc (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f amt hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft.
