held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, went 3rd before last, kept on
made all, ridden run-in, kept on well
with winner, mistake 5 out, ridden before last, kept on and always held run-in
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, one pace
held up towards rear, mistake and reminders 6 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up mid-division, lost place after 7 out
always behind, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, mistake and weakened from 2 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened after 6 out, soon tailed off, pulled up
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 2 out
Four of these are previous winners and it's hard to look beyond that quartet. Tradewinds won an amateur riders' handicap at Bellewstown in August for Michael Hourigan and made a winning start for Lucinda Russell at Perth last month. But he may struggle to give weight to recent Warwick winner Atlantic Gold and MONT CHOISY. Nigel Twiston-Davies' gelding is not blessed with a lot of pace but he's tough and stays well and has already won three times under Rules. The mare Miss Serious has won three times but has had her limitations exposed lately. The market will tell us what's expected of ex-pointers Three Of A Kind and Hinxworth.
Tradewinds (FR) 3-1fav (11-5) Took keen hold, jumped left at times, made all, hung left from before 8th, pressed last, stayed on well, clear towards finish, won at Perth 3m (4) gs in Sep beating Mustadrik (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Atlantic Gold (IRE) 4-9fav (11-0) Made all, clear before 2 out, pushed out, comfortably, won at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gd in Oct beating Who You For (11-0) by 5l, 5 ran.
Mont Choisy (FR) 11-8fav (11-12) Chased clear leader until after 1st, stayed 3rd until challenged from 6th, led last, stayed on well and drew clear towards finish, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Masterplan (10-12) by 7l, 9 ran.
Miss Serious (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Held up in rear, closed after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, every chance last, no impression on winner flat, one pace, 3rd of 9, 6 1/2l behind Still Believing (10-11) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Flamenco Flyer 100-1 (9-13) Held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 29 3/4l behind Melrose Abbey (8-7) at Chepstow 1m 2f mdn stks (5) sft in May.
Hinxworth (IRE) 2-1 (12-2) Chsd ldr, 2l 2nd 1/2way, prog to ld 5out, 1l adv bef 2out where left clr, 8l adv aft 2out, kow, v easily, won at Quakerstown 3m sft in Apr beating Aranhill Rascal (11-11) by 15l, 6 ran.
Lined With Silver (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, mistake 2 out, soon beaten, pulled up before last, at Stratford 2m mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Three Of A Kind (IRE) 9-4 (12-2) Ww, some prog 4out, rdn in ok 5th when fell 2out, at Largy 3m mdn in Apr.
Western Dream 33-1 (12-0) Prom til wknd 10; t.o & pu 4 out, at Cocklebarrow 3m mdn gd in Jan.
Zanstra (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) In touch, pushed along and one pace in well held 5th before 2 out, kept on into modest 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 14, 20l behind All Yours (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Feb.
