mid-division, headway 10th, effort on outside 3 out, weakened next
always behind, struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
raced keenly, led and raced wide, headed 8th, ridden after next, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, hit 9th, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten
in touch, driven 3 out, went 2nd next, led between last 2, ridden and kept on well flat
in touch, joined leaders 8th, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, no impression
tracked leader, led 8th, headed 3 out, ridden next, 3rd and one paced when jumped left last, kept on under pressure to go 2nd towards finish
steadied start, held up in rear, smooth headway 10th, led 3 out, headed between last 2, weakened flat
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
An absolutely dire contest where punters are advised to tread very carefully, but with the need to give a selection we will suggest AJAY, while Hasanpour and Michaels Dream should get involved. It is possible to pick many holes in the form of everything here, so let's try to concentrate on the positives. Ajay represents a yard who, at the time of writing, had won with its last two runners, so Ferdy Murphy clearly has his runners in good nick. As far as the trip is concerned, the eight-year-old did at least make the frame over course and distance in December, albeit when well beaten, and he has never raced on good to firm before, so we can't say he doesn't act on the ground. First-time headgear is another potential positive, and we are happy enough to take a chance on him. Hasanpour won over a similar trip at Huntingdon a couple of starts ago before running no sort of race at Towcester. He acts on fast ground and has been dropped 3lbs, so he has possibilities. Michaels Dream also acts on the ground and is slipping to a handy mark, but he has never won beyond 2m 6f and in all honesty he does not convince that he stays this far so we will oppose. Karathaena is worth a try over this marathon distance but has to prove she gets it. She has a feather weight to shoulder but the ground may be just a little on the quick side. Ten Carat has not won any race since 2003 and although he acts on the going he is hard to fancy even with the best pilot in the race up, and we'll take Ajay to score.
Hasanpour (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Towards rear, weakened 7th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Coda Agency (11-5) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Borouj (IRE) 100-1 (11-10) Led, headed after 5th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when blundered last, 12th of 16, well behind Sparkling Montjeu (10-0) at Catterick 2m sll hdl (5) gd.
Ajay (IRE) 17-2 (11-4) Held up, pushed along 8th, weakened from 14th, 8th of 12, well behind Garleton (10-8) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd.
Ten Carat 11-1 (11-11) Held up, reminders 7th, never dangerous, 7th of 17, 20l behind Capybara (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.
Classic Act 18-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, outpaced after 4 out, weakened from next, 3rd of 6, 28l behind Lockstown (11-0) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Michaels Dream (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Led to 8th, no impression from 3 out, 8th of 17, 21l behind Capybara (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, outpaced when hit 13th, weakened from next, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Skenfrith (10-0) at Ayr 3m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy, 6 ran.
Remainder 50-1 (11-4) Held up, weakened 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Capybara (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb, 17 ran.
Karathaena (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (10-8) Mid-division, reminders 6th, driven and weakened next, 5th of 10, 39l behind Galaxy Rock (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
