raced wide, held up behind, short lived effort after 10th, tailed off from 2 out
prominent, led 9th, ridden, headed after 2 out, kept on, soon held, lost 2nd flat
mid-division, headway after 10th, disputing 3rd when hit 2 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
held up behind, headway after 10th, close-up, ridden 2 out, soon one pace
tracked leaders, led 3rd until 9th, chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next
mid-division, headway 9th, challenging when hit 2 out, soon led, stayed on well, readily
chased leaders until weakened after 9th, tailed off
in touch, joined leader 9th, ridden, every chance after 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
mid-division, ridden after 9th, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up before last
chased leaders until dropped rear 5th, mistake 3 out, plugged on
mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
mid-division, mistake 6th, headway after next, ridden in close 3rd when blundered badly 2 out, not recover, eased
led until 3rd, ridden after 9th, soon behind, tailed off
mid-division until 10th, soon tailed off
With ground concerns over Something's Up, Our Jim and Sharkey's Dream we will take Khadija to land another big field contest. The Robin Dickin-trained selection is proven on decent ground, despite winning on soft at Taunton last time. Marathon trips like this are his forte, and a 5lb rise does not look beyond defiance, so he gets the vote. Our Jim is another who relishes a stamina test and Don McCain's runner is in good form having won at Market Rasen and finished runner up at Newcastle in recent times. Clearly he appears softer ground, but if he does take to this then he'd have a strong chance. Somethings Up was a good to soft Folkestone winner last time and has also gone up 5lb. That was a decent effort in context and if he can go on faster ground like this then he won't be far away. Sharkey's Dream is a one pacer who keeps making the frame but has a 0 from 13 record and will probably have to wait for a weaker race to get off the mark, while don't rule out improvement from Keith Goldsworthy-trained Picabo Kid in a first-time visor. Not a race to risk the mortage money on and Khadija is the suggestion.
Magical Wonderland 40-1 (10-4) Prominent, ridden 9th, weakened 3 out, 13th of 15, 37l behind Not Left Yet (11-12) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Something's Up 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, challenged last, led flat, ridden out, won at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs beating Geography (10-7) by 2l, 13 ran.
Sharkeys Dream (FR) 4-1fav (10-8) Held up, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 12, 17l behind Fresh Winter (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Willing Weasel (IRE) 28-1 (11-6) Held up in main group, not fluent 3rd, headway 5th, challenged 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 12, 14l behind Stravara (11-11) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Picabo Kid (USA) 100-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, reminders 5th, ridden and weakened after 8th, tailed off when, 9th of 10, well behind Quickbeam (11-4) at Taunton 3m nov hdl (4) gs.
Our Jim 4-1 (11-1) In touch, headway to lead 4 out, ridden last, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Alfabet Souk (10-1) at Newcastle 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Running Lord (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place approaching 8th, behind from 10th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Time Bandit (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy, 15 ran.
Super Judge (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Held up, headway after 11th, hit 12th, weakening when blundered badly 13th, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Super Lord (11-12) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Relative Hero (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Led until after 5th, chased winner until 7th, soon outpaced, went moderate 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Scotland Yard (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf in May.
Deep Pockets (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) Held up, mistakes 5th, 6th and 9th, tailed off 4 out, went poor 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, well behind Even More (11-1) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Rifleman (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Mid-division until outpaced 4 out, stayed on again from 2 out, 6th of 16, 7l behind Alcatras (11-8) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
Khadija 15-2 (11-3) Mid-division, headway after 7th, hit 2 out, soon ridden, led soon after last, driven out, won at Taunton 3m mrs hcp hdl (5) sft beating Gouranga (10-8) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Bendarshaan 9-1 (10-12) Carried head awkwardly and not looked keen after 7th, always behind, 10th of 13, 38l behind Souffleur (10-9) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
The Teuchter 50-1 (11-6) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Dundridge Native (11-3) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Jan, 17 ran.
Casalani (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) In rear, jumped slow 1st, soon well behind, 10th of 17, 37l behind Charlies Double (11-3) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (5) gs.
