took keen hold in rear, ridden after 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
took keen hold in rear, not fluent 4th, short of room bend after next, headway 7th, switched right approaching 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
mid-division, headway after 5th, lost place next, weakened after 7th, tailed off
chased leader until 2nd, remained prominent, weakened after 3 out, jumped right and mistake last
held up, fell 5th
prominent, chased leader 2nd, led after 7th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, beaten when mistake last, lost 2nd flat
led, blundered 4th, headed after 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 4th, not fluent and lost place 6th, weakened next
raced wide, held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, challenged 3 out, led before next, clear last, easily
Nonrunner
Petroglyph has been in cracking form of late but the time looks right to take him on and we do so with BOBBLE HAT BOB, whilst Final Veto is another with claims in an interesting contest. Our selection had shown little before his handicap debut last time but proved a mark of 100 to be fair at least with a solid second. The winner has subsequently scored in fine style off a higher mark so a 5lb rise shouldn't be viewed as harsh, especially as there should be improvement to come from the five-year-old. He's taken to make the most of the weight received from Petroglyph, who arrives in search of the four-timer. He's still got solid claims off a 9lb higher mark as the margin of victory from last time doesn't tell the whole story; the horse was nursed into contention and won with plenty in hand. Carrying top-weight won't be easy here though and the winning run has to come to an end eventually, so we're against the likely favourite. Final Veto has solid each-way claims in this contest now down to his last winning mark. This sort of trip looks about right and soft ground is fine, so with the capable Henry Oliver in the plate a bold show is expected. Mistress To No One has come up against some well-treated rivals of late which partly negates the worry that he's going up the ratings without winning. However, the same might be the case today and a place may be this one's best hope. Casual Garcia is worth a market check as the form he showed in November would entitle him to go close but the grey was pulled up last time and has questions to answer, as does Fort Severn who was beaten before stamina became an issue last time. Of more interest is Pearl despite the fact he disappointed when last seen as he gets in off a nice weight and has Richard Johnson's assistance, but we prefer the claims of Bobble Hat Bob for the champion.
Petroglyph 11-4 (11-11) Held up, headway 3 out, went 2nd next, challenged between last 2, ridden and stayed on under pressure to lead flat, all out, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec beating Rebeccas Choice (11-2) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Pingaro De La Vire (FR) 28-1 (11-4) Held up, headway after 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 14, 13l behind Stick Together (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Chaim (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Took keen hold well in rear, not fluent, blundered 8th, some headway when mistake 12th weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Kildonnan (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chase (4) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Ede's The Best 33-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden, lost place after 5th, well beaten when blundered 2 out and last, 5th of 8, 28l behind Midnight Queen (10-10) at Newbury 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Mistress To No One 7-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat, 4th of 14, 14l behind Money Order (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
Hohlethelonely 33-1 (10-6) Led in start, mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 16, well behind Volador (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Final Veto 22-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Peters Star (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
Fort Severn (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Held up in touch, outpaced 3 out, chased clear and easy winner before next, lost 2nd between last 2, soon weakened, 4th of 6, well behind Vivarini (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 7f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Kings Rock 22-1 (11-8) Hampered and unseated rider after 1st, in a race won by Another Miracle (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Pearl (IRE) 7-2fav (10-4) Chased leaders, disputing well held 3rd when hit 2 out, went left last, weakened flat, 6th of 15, 20l behind Tara Taylor (10-4) at Ffos Las 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Bobble Hat Bob (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, headway after 3 out, driven to lead before 2 out, hung left and headed before last, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 17, 6l behind Lady Bling Bling (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Casual Garcia 6-1 (11-2) Mid-division, lost place 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Cobbler's Queen (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
