chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
keen held up, ridden some headway after 3 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, slow 4th, weakened next, pulled up 3 out
held up, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leader, led approaching 3 out, headed approaching last, jumped right and soon weakened
held up, slow 3rd, weakened 5th
led, ridden and headed apporoaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, chased leader 3 out, every chance next, ridden to lead approaching last, headed flat and no extra
held up in rear, never dangerous
chased leader, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened next
held up, headway approaching 4th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, led flat, ridden out
Nonrunner
The Mark Pitman yard are flying at the moment and Finely Tuned can add to their recent tally, Dream Merchant and Archduke Ferdinand look to be the main danger. The selection was a shade disappointing in two outings at the start of this year, but his form in 2004 was very decent indeed, earning him a rating of 115. He will no doubt be fit for his return and he will be hard to beat if back to his best. Dream Merchant made a pleasing hurdles debut recently at Plumpton and looks set to improve for that run, he should be involved in the finish. Archduke Ferdinand is rated in the eighties on the flat and showed a modicum of ability on his hurdles debut at Chepstow. He is no doubt a lot better than he showed there and he could get into the places. So plenty of horses capable of improvement, but Pitman landed a decent contest on Monday with a horse on the comeback trail and he can do it again here with Finely Tuned
Tingshaw Ring (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, no impression flat, 2nd of 12, 3l behind United Spirit (11-3) at Hexham 2m mrs nov hdl (E) gf in Oct.
Archduke Ferdinand (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Keen, in touch, headway to chase leader 5th, led next, headed approaching 2 out, weakened and eased, 6th of 16, 24l behind Rimsky (10-12) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Oct.
Busy Man (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Always in rear, not fluent 3rd, soon tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Cruzspiel (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Captain Smoothy 50-1 (10-7) Mid-division until ridden and weakened over 4f, 11th of 13, 34l behind Secret Ploy (11-5) at Cheltenham 1m 4f 4yo nhf (H) gd in Jan '04.
Dream Merchant (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next, 4th of 16, 10l behind Dusky Lord (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (F) gd in Oct.
Finely Tuned (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Led, not fluent 2nd, headed after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 9, 20l behind Mister Mustard (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Mar.
Knocker Jock (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Took keen hold in touch, outpaced from 6f out, no chance after, 8th of 12, 28l behind Mr Ex (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn nhf (H) gd in Oct.
Lake Imperial (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Behind, hampered 2nd, some headway 2 out, weakened flat, 11th of 19, well behind Spring Breeze (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Mac's Elan 12-1 (10-9) Led to soon after 3 out, soon weakened, no chance when badly hampered last, 4th of 7, 32l behind Valley Ride (11-8) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (D) gd in Mar.
Meadow Hawk (USA) 18-1 (10-11) Never going well in rear, behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Herne Bay (11-13) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Jul, 15 ran.
Padre Nostro (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Prominent, led 4th, headed 6th, weakened next, 11th of 13, well behind Un Autre Espere (9-7) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Oct.
Ring of Destiny 7-1 (10-12) Hit 1st, tracked leader until ridden and weakened before 3 out, 6th of 8, 20l behind Almizan (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (E) gf in Aug.
Sgt Pepper (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Held up, effort after 5th, never dangerous, 6th of 14, 15l behind Allumee (11-2) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (E) gf in Oct.
Sharp Rally (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Always in rear, 11th of 15, well behind Magical Legend (10-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Sunday City (JPN) 3-1 (11-0) Led and keen, headed 2nd, led again 4th, headed and weakened quickly after 3 out, 7th of 15, 21l behind Magical Legend (10-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Three Ships 10-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, tracked leaders approaching 4th, narrow lead 2 out, hard ridden and under pressure last, stayed on well flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf in Jun beating Constable Burton (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
