prominent, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 12th, chased leader 4 out, ridden 3 out, ran on from 2 out but not reach winner
held up last, headway after 4 out, ridden 3 out, 3rd and held when fell last
prominent, headway and switched right 12th, led 13th, ridden approaching 3 out, ran on gamely flat
prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out and lost touch
led, mistake and headed 13th, ridden and switched left approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
From a shortlist containing Shareef, Osiris, Kosmos Bleu and Barton Hill, we will side with Shareef. Shareef has run well on each occasion he has run here, winning once, and his second to Calvic here last time following an absence, suggested there was better to come. He can set about proving that today and should go well. There is no doubting that Osiris's second to Schuh Shine last time reads well in the context of this race, with the winner having won again since. Lucky Sinna has finished second in each of his last five runs, and might benefit from being held on to a little longer than at Folkestone last time, while Kosmos Bleu has been knocking at the door lately from around his current mark, but Kew Jumper's form has stuttered following his Huntingdon success four runs ago. With Barton Hill set to go up a pound in future ratings, this generally-consistent type looks to be competitive for some place money, but Acertack probably has to find more under a seven-pound rise to score here than he did at Plumpton. The road, once again, points us back to Shareef, who gets the call in this handicap.
Shareef (FR) 6-1 Prominent, chased leader 13th, going well and challenging when mistake 3 out, rallied and ran on well flat, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Calvic at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (D) sft in Jan.
Osiris (IRE) 10-1 In touch, ridden after 2 out, went 2nd last, stayed on well flat, 2nd of 13, nk behind Schuh Shine at Southwell 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Jan.
Acertack (IRE) 3-1 Made all, travelling well when hit 4 out, in command from 2 out, clear last, ridden out flat, won at Plumpton 2m 1f nov hcp chs (F) sft in Jan beating Brigadier Du Bois by 6l, 7 ran.
