in touch until ridden approaching 2 out, weakened soon after
prominent until ridden 5th, weakened 3 out
in touch, ridden and weaken 3 out, soon well behind
mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out, soon behind
mid-division, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace after last
virtually refused to race, always behind
in touch, ridden and every chance when not fluent 2 out, soon lost place
prominent until ridden from 6th, soon faded
mid-division, ridden and some progress 3 out, soon beaten
held up rear, headway 6th to track leader, ridden to lead approaching last, challenged flat, kept on well
held up, headway 6th, ridden to chase leaders soon after, one pace
mid-division, ridden from 5th, stayed on well
held up rear, effort when pecked 3 out, kept on
prominent, ridden and lost place 2 out
mid-division, headway 3 out to chase leaders, every chance flat, no extra close home
towards rear, some late progress
mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakening approaching 2 out
led, not fluent 4th, ridden 2 out, weakening and headed next
behind until pulled up approaching 4th
A difficult start to the day's proceedings with 20 runners facing the starter including last time out handicap winners Spring Pursuit and Pardishar but they face a stiffer task in a more competitive contest here and preference is for Doce Vida at the other end of the weights. The selection showed decent form in bumpers prior to making a winning debut over hurdles when beating a big field in a novices' event at Wetherby earlier this month. Doce Vida looks well treated on that evidence and with Alan King's stable continuing in good form and, with further improvement to come, he looks the one to be on. Tom George saddles two, Kombinacja and Don Valentino, both ex-Polish geldings, who have progressive profiles. They have to be respected along with Heron's Ghyll from the in-form stable of Venetia Williams. Horses trained by Philip Hobbs have seen resurgence in their form recently so it would be no surprise to see either Forever Dream or Cool Spice, the mount of Richard Johnson, play a part. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Ardashir and Martin Pipe's Forbearing, the mount of Tony McCoy are others worthy of a mention but it is Doce Vida that gets the verdict.
