in touch, ridden 2f out, held when not much room inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
led, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on
broke well, keen, soon steadied towards rear, pushed along and kept on final furlong, never dangerous
close up, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up in rear, headway approaching final furlong, ran on to lead final 100 yards
mid-division, effort entering final furlong, soon short of room and snatched up, not a danger after
slowly into stride in rear, wide into straight 2f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, headed final 100 yards
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Afton View continues to be backed and run atrociously and so it may pay to take a chance on DAVIDS MARK ahead of Inka Dancer and Marvin Gardens. The selection hasn't won for over a year but he has rarely run a bad race since that Kempton success. This is his level and the handicapper has now given him a chance by dropping him to a mark of 50 - just 1lb above his last winning mark. He has a good draw to work from here and the stable's horses have started the year fairly well. Nawaff has had a three month break but will need to be in better form than when Mick Channon's gelding signed off in a claiming race at Kempton. Inka Dancer has some solid form off higher marks in the past so must be interesting off a mark of 50 today, however the fact that he is yet to win in 11 all-weather starts must ring some alarm bells. Marvin Gardens probably has a tough task off top-weight; Phil McEntee's gelding only has the one win to his name and that came in a weak maiden at Wolverhampton two starts back when wearing first time blinkers; they didn't have any effect when he was beaten since. At a price Donard Lodge could run better than recent efforts might suggest as this ex-Irish filly has now dropped to a career-low mark of 50. A tricky betting heat, and the most tentative of votes goes to Davids Mark.
Marvin Gardens 8-1 (8-11) Soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 14l behind Sarah's Art (9-6) at W'hampton 6f hcp (6) pol.
Forever Changes 25-1 (8-13) Led 2f, tracked leader after, ridden over 2f out, no headway, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 12, 8l behind Shaded Edge (8-8) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Metropolitan Chief 40-1 (8-9) Steadied start, pulled hard in mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon lost place and weakened quickly over 2f out, 11th of 12, 26l behind Guildenstern (9-0) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol.
Afton View (IRE) 5-1fav (10-8) In touch, one pace from over 1f out, 8th of 13, 4l behind Muktasb (11-4) at W'hampton 6f amt hcp (6) pol.
Nimbelle (IRE) 40-1 (8-12) Steadied start, always rear, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous, last of 11, 11l behind Lost All Alone (8-2) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Nawaaff 14-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden 2f out, outpaced and weakened over 1f out, no chance when eased inside final furlong, 10th of 11, 9l behind Mutamared (9-6) at Kempton 6f clm (6) pol in Oct.
Davids Mark 12-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, stayed on, not reach leaders, 5th of 10, 5l behind Hollow Jo (9-0) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol.
Inka Dancer (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Chased leader to over 2f out, weakened soon after, 10th of 11, 14l behind Sendreni (9-0) at Brighton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Oct.
Faintly Hopeful 50-1 (8-8) Took keen hold, held up, ridden halfway, soon outpaced, 7th of 8, 7l behind Mutamared (9-5) at Lingfield 6f clm (6) pol.
Green Velvet 10-1 (9-0) Close up on outside, ridden and effort wide 2f out, slightly outpaced, kept on again final furlong, 4th of 8, 6l behind The Magic Blanket (8-12) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-50 (6) pol.
Donard Lodge (IRE) 22-1 (8-11) Held up, raced keenly, some late progress, never dangerous, 6th of 13, 12l behind Sarah's Art (9-6) at W'hampton 6f hcp (6) pol.
Straight Face (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) In rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Head To Head (8-8) at Southwell 6f hcp (6) fbs.
