mid-division, fell 2nd
soon mid-division, outpaced 2 out, never on terms
led to 5th, soon lost place, weakened 2 out
in touch, driven and outpaced 2 out, ridden and weakened last
raced keenly in touch, headway after 3 out, ridden to lead at bypassed 2 out, stayed on well
raced keenly, headway on inside before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to chase winner flat, no impression
mid-division, effort to chase leaders 2 out, soon ridden, no impression
alwys behind, tailed off 3 out
held up, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, no impression approaching last
with leader, led 5th, ridden, headed at bypassed 2 out, no extra, lost 2nd flat
in touch, driven, outpaced after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure from next
held up, driven, headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace last
Another cracking race where Eradicate looks likely to start plenty short enough and has ability, but he has been a beaten favourite on all of his last three starts and is hardly one to trust with the life savings, so we will take on the Henderson inmate with bottom weight GRANDAD BILL. Jim Goldie would love to keep this prize in Scotland and his seven-year-old stayed on strongly to win in the Newcastle mud last time, with his 8lb rise enough to get him in here with a feather weight. He handles a sound surface and will surely get the strong pace that he wants, so hopefully he can pick them off to win it. Wikaala is an interesting runner who put in a really good effort in a decent Leopardstown contest over Christmas, and who handled fast ground on the Flat, so should be okay here. Watch the market for clues as to his chance. Palomar looks best watched for now, while Dontpaytheferryman hails from a yard in form and will also benefit from a likely strong pace, so could go well at a price. Marchand D'Argent was thrashed last time but the form of the race looks solid and he did win prior to that, so is not written off hopelessly, while Zanir would surely have made the frame last time in the void race at Doncaster and looks a threat from a mark of 133. An intriguing contest can go to Grandad Bill.
Red Moloney (USA) 16-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, smooth headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened before last, 3rd of 8, 23l behind Zaynar (11-4) at Ascot 2m 3f hdl G2 (1) gd in Nov.
European Dream (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, blundered 4th, stayed on approaching last, never in contention, 6th of 15, 18l behind Khyber Kim (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Astarador (FR) 7-2fav (11-9) Tracking leader when fell 2nd, in a race won by Tramantano (11-7) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Zanir (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, led 3 out, soon clear, won at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Pickamus (11-2) by 6l, 11 ran.
Eradicate (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Led, ridden, headed when not fluent last, one pace flat, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Frontier Dancer (11-5) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Palomar (USA) 14-1 (11-3) Keen hold in midfield, hit 3rd, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, 5th and no chance when blundered last, 6th of 14, 15l behind Ronaldo Des Mottes (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Marchand D'argent (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Raced wide, chased leaders, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 8, 29l behind Novikov (10-0) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Along The Nile 12-1 (11-2) Towards rear, outpaced after 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, nearest finish, 4th of 13, 9l behind Mesbaah (10-8) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, behind when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Lake Legend (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec, 19 ran.
Dontpaytheferryman (USA) 17-2 (10-3) Tracked leaders, took closer order 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 13, 22l behind Open de L'Isle (10-9) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Grandad Bill (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leading pair, effort to lead 3 out, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan beating High Stand Lad (10-10) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Dr Kildare 9-1 (10-10) Soon mid-division, 9th before straight, soon no impression under pressure, 11th of 25, 12l behind Bobs Display (10-7) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp hdl 8Evens16 in Dec.
Wikaala (USA) 7-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, headway in 4th 3 out, 3rd 2 out, ridden into 2nd before last, no extra run-in and kept on same pace, 3rd of 18, 2 1/4l behind Baily Rock (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m Novice Handicap Hurdle (8Evens16) (4yo+) in Dec.
Bolodenka (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, stumbled 1st, mistake 6th, hit 9th, 5th and not on terms when mistake and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by First Point (11-1) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
