held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, under pressure halfway, soon tailed off
led, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, hampered 1st, slow 2nd, under pressure halfway, soon tailed off, pulled up 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, under pressure 3 out, soon one pace
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner next, soon no impression
in touch, mistake 1st, weakened before 3 out
always prominent, led approaching 3 out, clear next, very easily
held up in rear, under pressure 3 out, soon beaten
mid-division, mistake 5th, headway before next, soon every chance, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
In the absence of much form to go on, with only three of these having raced before, we'll take a tentative chance with Evan Williams' SYDNEY SLING, ahead of Miss Phoebe and Gross Prophet. The selection is making his English debut after a short campaign in Ireland, where he did win on the Dundalk all-weather surface. The stable have a fine reputation for taking horses from elsewhere and producing winners. Miss Phoebe and Gross Prophet are also making their hurdling debuts. They're the only runners on the card for their respective trainers, and if taking to the fences following moderate Flat success, they should be involved. Galley Slave is the most experienced, but has not really come close in 14 runs, having been switched to hurdles after being similarly unsuccessful on the Flat. It's a race we wouldn't be tempted to go large on.
Caught In Paradise (IRE) 28-1 (8-7) Towards rear, never a factor, 10th of 11, 32l behind Banquet (8-12) at Catterick 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) gd in Aug (Flat).
Galley Slave (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Behind, 7th of 13, well behind Starluck (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Glamoroso (IRE) 200-1 (9-3) Behind, one pace from 3f out, 5th of 10, 40l behind Scarab (9-3) at Catterick 1m 4f mdn stk (5) hvy in Nov (Flat).
Gross Prophet 3-1jt-fav (9-8) Close up on outside, pushed along and slightly outpaced 4f out, headway on outside 2f out, chased leader entering final furlong, led final 100 yards readily, won at Kempton 1m 2f clm (6) pol in Oct beating Blur (8-7) by 1l, 10 ran (Fl.
Gunnadoit (USA) 50-1 (10-9) Chased winner, hit 3rd, lost 2nd next, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 13, 37l behind Helium (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Martin's Friend (USA) (9-2) won at Frankfurt 1m 2f hcp in Sept beating Saturn (8-7) by a shd, 12 ran (Flat).
Sydney Sling (IRE) 11-2 (8-13) Raced in rear, headway on outer after 3f, led under 2f out, clear 1f out, kept on well, won at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 45-70 pol in Aug beating Luttrell Lady (9-8) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran (Flat).
Bosamcliff (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Towards rear, mistake 3rd, some headway after 3 out, no further impression, 6th of 14, 35l behind Akarshan (11-2) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Miss Phoebe (IRE) 11-1 (8-13) In touch, outpaced 3f out, stayed on again over 1f out, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Romantic Verse (9-2) at W'hampton 7f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Sept (Flat).
