tracked leaders, mistake 1st, reminders, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out
made all, soon clear, ridden 3 out, mistake last, held on
always in rear, mistake 2nd, pulled up before 6th
towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway next, ridden and hit 6th, soon beaten
towards rear, effort 5th, soon weakened
held up, headway 5th, held from 3 out
tracked leader, ridden 2 out, switched right to chase winner flat, ran on and just denied
in rear when jumped left 5th, never dangerous
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, no chance from 3 out
held up, held from 6th
This is the most attractive looking race on the card with nearly all the runners having winning form, but we'll go with Mr Jack Daniels, ahead of Nortonthorpe Lad and King's Head. The selection is bang in form, with three wins and a second from his last four races, and doesn't seem to mind what the ground's like. Tony McCoy's on board, and Ferdy Murphy's gelding sets the standard here, albeit he's stepping up a class. Nortonthorpe Lad steps up too after being consistently placed. He won on good ground recently at Newton Abbott, but softer ground's not been a problem in the past though. Richard Johnson gets the ride, usually a conditional has been in the saddle, but a more experienced rider may be needed here. Gary Moore has two runners in the race, Almizan and the first string King's Head. The latter won a similar contest at Huntingdon in May, but although since finding things tougher at a higher level, was far from disgraced when 4th in more illustrious company last time out in an Epson handicap on the flat. It's a good contest this, and we think it can go the way of Mr Jack Daniels
Lord Baskerville 20-1 (10-4) Close up, ridden and lost place approaching 5th, 14th of 15, 48l behind Katies Tuitor (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f lst hcp hdl (1) sft.
Is It Me (USA) 16-1 (10-4) Led, clear until pushed along 5th, soon headed, hit 6th, weakened approaching next, last of 4, well behind Katchit (11-7) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Circassian (IRE) 50-1 (11-11) Led, clear after 2nd until 4th, ridden and headed after 5th, jumped left next, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 11, 26l behind Leo's Lucky Star (11-4) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Mr Jack Daniells (IRE) Evensfav (11-12) Held up, smooth headway on outside after 5th, went 2nd 3 out, led before next, 6 lengths clear last, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jun beating Federstar (11-9) by 9l, 6 ran.
Pilca (FR) 11-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, not reach leaders, 4th of 11, 9l behind Leo's Lucky Star (11-4) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
King's Head (IRE) 9-4fav (10-5) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, 8th of 14, 33l behind The Rocking Dock (9-13) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Nortonthorpe Lad (IRE) 6-4fav (10-11) Mid-division, jumped slowly 5th, headway after 7th, ridden and edged left flat, no extra, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Jam Packed (11-1) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Almizan (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Hit 7th, soon struggling, always in rear, 7th of 8, well behind Annie Fleetwood (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Classic Role 14-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway 8th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 9th of 13, 41l behind Honeybrook (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
Midnight Spirit 9-1 (10-9) Mid-division, mistake 7th, soon went poor 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 11, 35l behind Chevy To The Levy (11-2) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gf in May.
