held up, not fluent 1st, some headway home turn to go 5th, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, kept on well from 2 out, ran on into 2nd from last
handy, challenging 4 out, led going well before 2 out, clear last, stayed on well flat
led, headed 7th, weakened rapidly thereafter, pulled up after 5 out
prominent, led from 7th, ridden and hard pressed 4 out, headed before 2 out, no extra approaching last when fell
in rear, rapid headway 5 out to track leaders, pushed along and outpaced approaching 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, lost 2nd run-in
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, niggled along throughout, weakened from 6 out, pulled up after 4 out when mistake
mid-division on inside, ridden to dispute lead 4 out, soon outpaced and no extra, pulled up after 2 out
mid-division, pushed along and weakened 5 out, pulled up before 4 out
NonRunner
Slanelough is 2-4 around here and beat Hidden Commander at the track in November but is the senior runner in this. The King Of May has been getting closer so can’t be ignored but Sirwilliamwallace was pulled up at Haydock having beaten today’s rival Dalyotin earlier at Kelso. In good form north of the border at the end of last season, DUBAI DAYS hasn’t jumped well on his two starts this campaign but slips further down the weights and this trip may suit him more nowadays. On Springs rattled up a hat-trick last summer but was well beaten when unseating his rider at Cheltenham in October. Castle Rushen has the most scope of these though, like the returning O'Toole, has a big weight to shoulder.
Castle Rushen (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up, yet to to be asked a serious question when blundered and unseated 8th, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
O'Toole (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, 3rd halfway, close up and disputed briefly 8f out, close 2nd 4 out, disputed before straight, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on, no extra in 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 6 3/4l behind Wild Hunt (10-9) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp sft in Mar.
Slanelough (IRE) 18-1 (12-0) Made all, driven along approaching 2 out, pressed for lead after last, ran on gamely, always doing enough, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Rowdy Rustler (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
The King Of May (FR) 11-2 (11-0) In rear, reminders after 7th, mistake and behind 9th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Mackenberg (12-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Dubai Days (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Held up in last, headway 2 out where not fluent, ridden and chased leaders approaching last where mistake, weakened close home, 5th of 6, 5 3/4l behind Dreams Of Home (11-9) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Dalyotin (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 10, 25 1/4l behind The Paddy Pie (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
On Springs (IRE) 10-1 (11-13) Bumped 1st, soon rear of mid-division, ridden after 7th, mistake 11th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Sirwilliamwallace (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Badly hampered 1st, behind and pulled up after 4th, at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Hidden Commander (IRE) 16-5 (11-10) Chased leader, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Baron De Midleton (12-2) by 2l, 7 ran.
Thatsy (FR) 10-3 (11-0) Chased leader, not much room 12th, challenged 4 out, soon led, headed 3 out, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 3, 6l behind Soyouthinksoagain (11-7) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
