in touch, keen, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
keen, hampered on bend after 1st, led 3rd, headed and mistake 4th, weakened approaching 5th, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, one pace
tracked leaders, hampered and lost place on bend after 1st, headway next, led 4th, ridden and headed after 2 out, no impression
led after 1st, headed 2nd, ridden 3 out, led after 2 out, ran on
towards rear, headway 3rd, ridden 4 out and weakened
keen, ridden 3 out, plugged on
held up, headway after 4th, going well when pecked 4 out, soon weakened
always behind
mid-division, headway after 2nd, close up when mistake 4 out, weakened last
led, hung right towards stables after 1st and headed, behind after 4th
always towards rear
hampered on bend after 1st and lost place, led 2nd, headed 3rd, hit 4th, weakened 3 out
keen, headway 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
Top Ram is our pick to land this at the main expense of Sir Peter and Bayberry King. Top Ram has very little milage on the clock for an eight year old and up 1lb for a second placing in January at Cheltenham should leave him spot on. He obviously is not the soundest of horses but that outing showed he is in good heart and with many of his rivals out of form, he can land this. Sir Peter was a shock winner at Towcester last time and while this will pose a much stiffer test, he should be thereabouts. Bayberry King disappointed last time and he may have been flattered on his penultimate outing, in what was a falsly run race behind Evelith Echo. With many out of form sorts in this, Top Ram is our selection for the number one spot.
Bayberry King (USA) 16-1 (10-12) Left prominent, left in lead after 4th, headed 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when blundered 2 out and pulled up at the last in race won by What A Friend (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 15 ran.
Tooka 100-1 (11-0) Held up, in rear when fell at the 3rd in race won by Kings Euro (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Petito (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 5th of 14, 12l behind Bertie May (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Mungo Jerry (GER) 33-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 2nd, pressed leader from 3 out, led approaching last, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jan beating Euro Import (10-9) by 6l, 15 ran.
Majaales (USA) 14-1 (11-4) In touch, jumped slowly 2nd, never dangerous after, 5th of 14, 22l behind Masked Man (11-4) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Sir Peter (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, ridden between last 2, stayed on to lead last stride, won at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan beating Jaunty Flight (11-11) by a shd, 14 ran.
Top Ram (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up, ridden 2 out, switched left approaching last, stayed on under pressure, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Oh Crick (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Jan.
The Venetian (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Chased leader, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 16, 34l behind Cave of The Giant (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan.
Dee Cee Elle 200-1 (9-12) Towards rear, headway after 4 out, hard ridden 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 15, 15l behind Doubly Guest (10-5) at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Fair Shake (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, no impression, 7th of 13, 34l behind Final Bid (11-9) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) sft.
Crossguard (USA) 25-1 (10-9) Mid-division, reminders after 2nd, behind from 5th, 12th of 16, 41l behind Moon Star (11-9) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Dark Energy 9-2 (10-6) Held up, hung left after 3 out, no impression when hit 2 out, 13th of 16, 41l behind Moon Star (11-9) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Cat Six (USA) 12-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd and 5th, soon ridden, outpaced approaching 2 out, 4th of 7, 8l behind Aberdeen Park (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl (4) sft.
Posh Emily 25-1 (10-4) Mid-division, ridden 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 16, 50l behind Katess (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
