in touch, ridden approaching 6th, outpaced after 4 out
tracked leaders, reminders 5th and lost place, mistake 6th and dropped rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 5th, effort approaching 3 out, stayed on strongly approaching last to lead run in
mid-division, struggling 7th, soon lost touch
held up towards rear, headway 4 out to chase leaders, ridden and disputing 3rd when fell next
led, ridden 2 out, headed and no extra flat
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 4 out, soon outpaced
tracked leader, ridden to challenge 2 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish
held up in rear, pushed along 7th, headway under pressure after 4 out, stayed on well after 2 out, nerarest finish
held up in rear, headway and in touch 6th, ridden and weakened 4 out
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
Dixcart Valley could improve for being dropped back in trip, but his form overall so far leaves something to be desired. Cisco needs to step up on what he has achieved so far, and he has been beaten in blinkers too. Zygomatic has not progressed from showing promise in bumpers during the summer but is stepping up in trip. Scottish Song won two bumpers in Ireland back in 1998 but has now raced only once since January 2001, when well beaten by Minivet at Wetherby over two miles on February 26. He'll have had to come on a lot for that run. The lightly raced Rescator also showed promise in 2000 and 2001 when with Martin Pipe but looks to have regressed. Dual Flat winner (at a mile) Requestor, was beaten in a seller last time. Cork bumper winner, Chancers Dante, has hinted at ability a couple of times in Britain but has so far failed to deliver. The lightly race Joint Authority is a half-brother to The Last Fling. He too has hinted at ability but needs to learn to settle in his races. Sir Edward Burrow was narrowly beaten in a Catterick novices' event in December, and a repeat of that would help his cause in what has the look of a modest contest. Montessori Mio has to be considered, even though he is maybe not one to trust implicitly. The cheekpieces - which he will also wear on Saturday - seemed to help last time and, now stepped up to two-and-a-half miles, has got to be considered. A repetition of his debut second to Shannon's Pride would make Almire du Lia competitive, while Strong Resolve came good in an Ayr maiden hurdle eight days ago, and he will have his supporters. Top weight Smith's Landing is also lightly raced but has also to be considered on the basis of his Catterick fourth to Another Dude. The feeling is that the winner will come from one of the top four, with Montessori Mio given the vote on his step up in trip.
