held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out
held up mid-division, one pace from 3 out
held up, headway after 4 out, challenging when blundered 3 out, led last, headed flat, no extra towards finish
held up towards rear, ridden 4 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, weakened 4 out, behind when fell next
held up, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, regained lead flat, driven out
with leader, led approaching 7th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, no impression
held up and keen, pushed along 6th, good headway to join leaders next, weakened approaching 3 out
led, headed approaching 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, one pace
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
PHEIDIAS is the selection with Knockavilla and Solent offered up as the alternatives. Pam Sly¿s charge is something of a thinker but he has run his better races at this course in the past so must be fancied to give us a good run for our money this afternoon. Knockavilla is very much of interest. Relatively unexposed in relation to many of his rivals, he does have a small matter of a Boxing Day failure to overcome. Solent was once thought of as a champion hurdle type. That ambition seems somewhat out of the window these days but he has come down the weights and John Quinn did enjoy a winner at Cheltenham earlier in the week. Terenzium seldom runs a bad race at Wetherby though the handicapper has had plenty of chance to look at him. Rio De Janeiro was once listed class for Emma Lavelle and it is George Baker¿s turn to pick up the pieces. Greenbelt has patchy form but cannot be discounted. Youngstown looks a chaser in the making and anything achieved in this sphere is arguably a bonus. Imtihan has plenty of miles on the clock and while an infrequent winner, he could be of interest for each-way investors this afternoon. A competitive enough event and Pheidias is our call.
Rio De Janeiro (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, reminders after 5th, struggling after next, 11th of 17, 34l behind The Polomoche (11-12) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Oct.
Greenbelt 16-1 (10-6) Held up, weakened approaching 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Oscardeal (10-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb, 14 ran.
Terenzium (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon driven and weakened, 7th of 12, 18l behind Final Veto (10-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Knockavilla (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened quickly approaching 3 out, continued tailed off, 10th of 16, 48l behind Bedizen (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Pheidias (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, driven last, headed close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Falpiase (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Youngstown (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Took keen hold early, chased leaders, challenged 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 16, 6l behind Silk Affair (10-8) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Aldiruos (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Behind, headway 3 out, soon driven, one pace approaching last, 7th of 20, 17l behind Gala Evening (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Imtihan (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, driven and no extra from next, 4th of 12, 13l behind Magical Legend (11-11) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Gold Thread (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and led 3 out, driven and stayed on flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb '07 beating The Gleaner (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Doris's Gift 20-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 9th, weakened 4 out, 8th of 11, 37l behind Percutant (11-8) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
Currahee 33-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, hit 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 13, 22l behind Toshi (10-8) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Solent (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Raced keenly, led after 1st, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 9, 11l behind I Have Dreamed (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Mud Monkey 28-1 (11-6) Led, clear after 3rd, ridden when hit 2 out, no extra when headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Master d'Or (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
