held up in touch, headway approaching 2 out, to go 3rd, soon ridden, weakened last
patiently ridden in rear, smooth headway from 2 out, effort to chase leader approaching last, driven and stayed on to lead final strides
in touch, ridden to chase leader 2 out until approaching last, kept on one pace
held up in touch, hit 4th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
in rear, stumbled 3rd, behind from 3 out, pulled up next
led, ridden 2 out, mistake last, headed final strides
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, behind when hit last
held up, ridden 3 out, weakened next
prominent, jumped right 2nd and 3rd, ridden to press leader 3 out, weakened soon after next
tracked leader until ridden 2 out, driven and weakened approaching last
always in rear, behind from 3 out
in rear, behind from 3 out
held up in touch, improved from 3 out, ridden next, stayed on to go 3rd at last
A competitive end to this card but we're going to side with the in-form DEEP REFLECTION ahead of Power Shared and Shadow Dancer amongst others. The selection won this race in 2007 for another yard from the same mark as today and finished a close third last year from a 9lb higher perch. His win at Market Rasen was just his third start for a stable that has made a terrific start to the season and it would be no surprise were there more to come. Power Shared is the other penalised runner in this field having landed a touch at Hereford but this looks to be a stronger race and he could have his work cut out to follow up. Shadow Dancer has raced on ground no worse than good to soft but is entitled to go close if handling the conditions. The winner of the Aintree race won as he liked next time before finishing a close third at Musselburgh to boost the value of the form. Majaales has claims on his best form and the market can guide to his chances and those of Friendly King, Hohlethelonely and Fruity O'Rooney who are better than they've been able to show on recent outings. Good Old Thyme has gone well on both starts for this yard and should appreciate being stepped back up in trip and has claims racing from the same mark before his rider's claim is taken into account but, after plenty of headscratching, preference is for Deep Reflection.
Majaales (USA) 7-1 (10-13) Prominent, not fluent 7th, soon lost place, no danger after, 8th of 15, 16l behind Schindlers Son (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in May '08.
Shadow Dancer (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, every chance next, chased winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Natural Action (10-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Good Old Thyme (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Led, hit 3rd, hit 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, chased winner after, no impression from last and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Catch Bob (10-13) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
Parlesotho (FR) 15-8 (11-0) Held up in touch, went 2nd 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 8, 30l behind Midnight Queen (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Friendly King 16-1 (11-12) Held up, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 7, 21l behind River Logic (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
Fruity O'Rooney 10-1 (10-10) In touch, not fluent 5th, struggling after next, 11th of 17, 32l behind Wolf Moon (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Rock Wren 12-1 (10-9) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, soon outpaced, 6th and no impression when blundered next, 7th of 13, 19l behind The Giant Bolster (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Hohlethelonely 7-1 (11-7) Reluctant to race, towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway into mid-division after next, struggling 3 out, rallied briefly, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 7th of 11, 30l behind Scots Dragoon (10-13) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gd in Nov.
Mars Rock (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Held up, pulled hard, headway 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Quinte Du Chatelet (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Deep Reflection 11-4fav (10-8) With leader, ridden after 3 out, led approaching next, hard pressed, stayed on under pressure to draw clear flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft beating King Mak (10-11) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Omix D'or (FR) 14-1 (10-9) Chased leaders and jumped right, weakening when mistake 4 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by According To Pete (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) gd in Oct '08, 10 ran.
Eskimo Pie (IRE) 8-1 (12-7) Chsd ldrs vain to 3 out, 3rd of 8, well behind Denvale (12-7) at Garthorpe 3m 4f ptp in Apr '08.
Power Shared (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, ridden clear last, stayed on well, won at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft beating My Skipper (10-1) by 8l, 14 ran.
