always behind
mid-division, lost place after 3rd, soon behind
chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, ridden, headed approaching last, one pace last
held up, headway 6th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, keen, headway 6th, slipped, rider lost iron bend approaching 2 out, led, not fluent last, ran on well
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, 4th when mistake last
prominent, led 4th to after 6th, soon weakened
made most to 4th, weakened after 6th
behind, kept on approaching 2 out, never dangerous
held up, keen, headway 4th, ridden after 6th, stayed on flat
in touch, led after 6th, ridden, headed approaching 2 out, one pace flat
always towards rear
held up, effort, mistake 5th, no danger after
chased leaders to 6th
with leader to approaching 4th, weakened after next
Silver City is the pick in a very tricky opener, with Killer Cat and Danebank put forward as the main rivals. The Phillip Hobbs trained five-year-old .was a decent enough performer on the flat for Amanda Perrett and has made a good transition to hurdling. He improved on his debut run to land a Taunton maiden in good style, beating Tech Eagle by a comfortable length and a quarter. He looks well treated for his handicap debut and looks the best option. Martin Pipe's Killer Cat has been well beaten in all his races so far but has taken on decent enough types. In this company he could get involved in the finish. Danebank looked in need of his recent effort at Uttoxeter and has a squeak on the pick of last season's form. Caspian Dusk is another to consider for each-way purposes, but our idea of the winner is Silver City.
Alchimiste (FR) 40-1 (11-4) Always behind, last of 5, well behind Theocritus (10-10) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) sft.
Caspian Dusk 50-1 (10-10) In touch, lost place 7th, tailed off, 15th of 16, 44l behind Meadow Hawk (9-9) at Taunton 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf.
Danebank (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, weakening when not fluent 3 out, 8th of 15, 40l behind Mikado (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (F) gs in Oct.
Silver City 5-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, chased leader after 4th, led 3 out, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (E) gf beating Tech Eagle (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Petwick (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Held up, headway after 7th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 13, 27l behind Forager (11-0) at Windsor 2m 4f nh mdn hdl (E) sft in Dec.
Killer Cat (FR) 14-1 (10-3) Mid-division, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 17, 15l behind Ressource (9-9) at Stratford 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in May.
Kadito 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Lindsay (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs, 13 ran.
Dubai Dreams 25-1 (10-9) Led, ridden 3 out, headed next, weakened approaching last, 4th of 12, 11l behind Celtic Legend (10-3) at Wetherby 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft.
Royal Niece (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Held up in mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, jumped left 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 12, 11l behind Laudamus (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd in Apr.
Foxmeade Dancer 4-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden in 4th and 2 lengths down when blundered last, weakened flat, 5th of 6, 7l behind Young Lorcan (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) hvy.
Pop Gun 50-1 (11-0) Chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 16, 21l behind Past Heritage (9-11) at Taunton 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf.
Master Brew 33-1 (10-0) Behind and ridden along, tailed off when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Anflora (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (F) sft in Oct, 16 ran.
Parish Oak 7-2 (10-8) Held up, not fluent 5th, headway 7th, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 11, 18l behind Kadam (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Apr.
Island Warrior (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Prominent, led approaching 6th to 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 16, 31l behind Devito (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (F) frm in Oct.
Classic Rock 25-1 (11-3) Led until approaching 4th, led again after 6th, headed 8th, weakened next, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by San Marco (11-3) at Worcester 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gf in Jun '04, 18 ran.
