in touch, ridden to lead after 3 out, ridden out
led 1st, stayed prominent, led again 7th, headed after 3 out, with leader and chance last, held flat
mid-division, ridden and slightly hampered 8th, weakened 3 out
always in rear
tracked leaders, driven 6th, ridden and weakening when jumped left 3 out
towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, kept on
tracked leaders, hampered 8th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 3 out
towards rear and keen, behind when fell 2 out
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders 8th, ridden 3 out, weakened last
distance, held up mid-division, weakened 7th, behind 4 out
led 2nd, narrowly headed 7th with leader when fell next
With very few, if any, of the runners here in form this may not be a race to get too heavily involved in and what can only be a tentative vote goes to Dancing Rock, who is preferred to Mikado and Noble Bily. The last mentioned showed promise on his reappearance but disappointed last time and David Pipe's gelding may be best watched despite having been dropped 3lbs in the handicap. Chicago Bulls has slipped back to a winning mark but has given little cause for optimism of late, while Ask The Umpire should relish the ground but has yet to prove his effectiveness over this far. Mikado may be better than he has shown so far this term but is hard to back on the evidence of his two runs and preference is for Dancing Rock, who has at least shown some semblance of form of late and he looks the percentage call.
Rowley Hill 50-1 (10-12) In rear, hit 5th, driven 8th, soon tailed off, 17th of 18, well behind Standin Obligation (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gd in Apr.
Magnifico (FR) 20-1 (11-5) In touch when fell at the 7th in race won by Chamacco (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov, 8 ran.
Campaign Trail (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Held up towards read, headway approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, 7th of 19, 11l behind Monolith (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Malay 50-1 (9-13) Behind, never reached challenging position, 10th of 19, 17l behind Monolith (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Chicago Bulls (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden and hampered 7th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 8, well behind Chamacco (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
Mikado 13-2 (11-12) Chased leaders until weakened 3 out, 7th of 12, 23l behind Inishturk (10-6) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Dancing Rock 5-1 (11-6) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 8, 15l behind Legally Fast (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Milligan (FR) 100-1 (9-11) Keen hold, pressed leader, led 3rd to 5th, weakened 9th, tailed off, 11th of 17, well behind Star De Mohaison (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Noble Bily (FR) 11-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, effort approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 7th of 20, 12l behind After Midnight (9-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Ask The Umpire (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Held up rear, headway to lead after 5th, headed 8th, led briefly 11th, headed and weakened 5 out, 4th of 8, 39l behind Hiers De Brouage (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Litzinsky 40-1 (9-11) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Kilty Storm (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
