prominent, mistake 9th and lost place, rallied 12th, weakened 14th, one pace from next
in touch until weakened 12th, ridden and stayed on from 4 out, never dangerous
held up in touch, went prominent 11th, went 2nd 13th, ridden and weakened 3 out
prominent to 5th, mid-division when mistake 11th, soon behind
behind when blundered 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up after 11th
led, headed 12th, tracked leaders and hard ridden when blundered 2 out, not recover
behind, not jump well, tailed off when pulled up after 15th
always in rear and ridden, tailed off when pulled up after 11th
in touch to 3rd, soon weakened and behind, pulled up before 16th
always in touch, headway 14th, ridden 4 out, went 2nd last, ran on well to lead line
held up in rear, effort 12th, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leader until blundered 13th, weakened rapidly, pulled up after 15th
close up tracking leaders, led 14th, mistake 2 out, hard ridden and headed close home
held up in rear, headway 12th, every chance 2 out, one pace flat
The big race of the day and a big field to boot. Several of these have chances and it might just pay to side with the powerful Paul Nicholls yard and Cape Stormer. If you back him then you are clearly taking a chance that he will truly see out the trip here, as he has been campaigned over shorter thus far. However, he seems to have plenty of other factors in his favour, not least a yard in form, a penchant for good ground and a course win to his name over two and a half miles. With a short break to freshen him up he can defy the 6lb penalty he received for that win and follow up. Should he fail to stay, then there will be plenty of others queuing up to take his place. Midnight Gunner will be one of them. The gelding loves this track and trip and seems to reserve his best efforts for here. Beaten on soft ground at Newbury last time, a return to a sound surface will be in his favour and a win would be no major surprise, despite the fact that he looks fully exposed. Mothers Help is another exposed type, though he has won off a higher mark than this some time ago. Trip and track will suit and with the ground back in his favour he can go well once again. Homme De Fer won over course and distance in November, but a 6lb penalty found him out last time. Another who loves the track, he can give an improved showing here, but may not be good enough to win. Of the remainder, Judaic Ways is in good heart and also has conditions to suit, but does look to have e stiff task after a 9lb rise in the handicap recently, while Creative Time is weighted to be very close to the former based on their running here last month and should again run his race.
