tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened from next
made most, hit 3 out, soon ridden, driven out run in
towards rear, headway from 3 out, ridden and kept on from next
mid-division, 8 lengths down and staying on when fell 2 out
mid-division, hampered 3rd, in touch halfway, ridden from 3 out, one pace when blundered last
mid-division, tracked winner from halfway, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders until ridden and weakened from 4 out
tracked leaders, beaten from 4 out, pulled up before next
prominent, lost place 5th, weakened after next, behind and pulled up before last
always behind, badly hampered 3rd, beaten and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden and lost place approaching 4 out
tracked leaders until weakened 4 out, soon beaten
towards rear, hampered 3rd, ridden and kept on from 3 out
mid-division, ridden halfway, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
CLASSIC CUT has less to prove than Baltic Pathfinder and Dark Moon and consequently gets the nod. Baltic Pathfinder hails from a yard in red hot form but he lost his way on his handicap bow at Uttoxeter when taking a keen hold and he had also been held when unseating on his penultimate start. He has the ability to win a race of this nature but with those slight doubts surrounding his chance we'll side with James Ewart's runner who may benefit from encountering faster ground. Classic Cut has progressed with every run and won't need to find significant improvement in order to land this contest. Dark Moon would probably have finished behind Baltic Pathfinder at Newcastle but he could conceivably improve for this further step up in trip. Fishing Instructor and Character Building's brother, Flaco, could get involved but this test should prove right up the street of our selection, Classic Cut.
Ballysimon (IRE) 200-1 (11-6) Mid-division on outside, lost place 4th, ridden and lost touch 6th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Cape Tribulation (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Baltic Pathfinder (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, hit 4th, pushed along after 5th, weakened 6th, not fluent next, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Fredo (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs.
Classic Cut 6-1 (11-3) Mid-division, tracked leaders approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Sphinx (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft.
Dark Moon (GER) 33-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, weakened 2 out, 5th of 14, 22l behind Merrydown (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs.
Fishing Instructor 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden and chased leaders from 2 out, soon one pace, 4th of 16, 19l behind Livvy Inn (10-2) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Flaco (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 13, 36l behind Phoudamour (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs.
Frankie Anson (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3 out, 5th of 14, 13l behind Santo Stefano (11-1) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Lord Samposin 50-1 (10-13) Led, headed after 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 13, 19l behind Dancing Dik (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd.
Masters House (IRE) 250-1 (10-11) Always behind, lost touch 7th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Divers (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Mind Your Manners 250-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, weakened and struggling from 6th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Thetwincamdrift (11-0) at Doncaster 3m mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
Stravonian 100-1 (10-0) Mid-division, lost place and behind when hit 4th, ridden next, soon lost touch, jumped badly left last, 8th of 9, well behind Tranos (11-8) at Perth 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Tyrrhenian 20-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, beaten from 4 out, 8th of 9, well behind Singing Wizard (11-1) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Claresburn 200-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 14, 38l behind Don't Stop Me Now (10-3) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Foxy Nell 250-1 (10-3) Always behind and pulled up 4 out in race won by Sphinx (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft, 11 ran.
Kopylova 66-1 (10-2) Mid-division, outpaced from halfway, no impression, 8th of 16, 33l behind Livvy Inn (10-2) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Molly Moss 66-1 (10-11) In touch, ridden and tailed off from over 4f out, 13th of 14, well behind Storm Brig (10-11) at Kelso 2m mdn nhf (6) gd.
