in touch, blundered 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
mistake 2nd, always towards rear
prominent early, behind from 7th, pulled up after 3 out
in touch, headway approaching 6th, effort after 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
always behind
mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden to chase leaders approaching 2 out, one pace approaching last
mid-division, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from next
never better then mid-division
behind 4th, pulled up before next
chased leaders until weakened over 3 out
always mid-division
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, stayed on
held up towards rear, headway after 6th, ridden in 3rd approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, hung left flat
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace from next
alwasy behind
chased leaders, challenged after 2 out, hard ridden and every chance flat, left in lead final 50 yards
mid-divisision until weakened 3 out, soon pulled up
led, hard ridden approaching last, narrow advantage when ridder mistook winning post and dropped hands and headed
always towards rear
prominent, weakened quickly 6th, pulled up before 7th
A wide open handicap rounds off the card and there is very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be Merry Music, Kikos and Wild Tonto and the tentative nomination is given to Merry Music. The selection was a fair fourth behind Khasab last time out, looks sure to improve for this longer trip and off what remains a fair mark he looks a value bet. Kikos rates the main danger on his latest ninth behind Najca De Thaix he is another that will be suited by this longer trip but he looks vulnerable under top weight. Wild Tonto is another worthy of respect on his latest third behind Kinetic Power but he has yet to prove he stays this far and at likely odds he looks worth taking on. Island Flyer enters handicaps off what looks a fair mark and could go well at a price. Master Wolfe has been let down by his jumping of late and even though he is on an attractive mark he is opposed. Of the others Sonoma hails from a yard in form but has shown little of late and with this in mind for the winner we return to Merry Music.
Kikos (FR) 13-2 (11-11) Held up in touch, outpaced 2 out, stayed on approaching last, weakened flat, 9th of 16, 21l behind Najca De Thaix (11-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Tom Fontenailles (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, struggling 4th, weakened after 6th, 6th of 15, 22l behind Beshabar (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Brown Fox (FR) 40-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden and mistake 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Eden Linty (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl (2) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Island Flyer (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, effort 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 13, 31l behind Abstract Art (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Darwaz (IRE) 22-1 (11-10) Prominent, ridden 5th, weakened approaching 7th, 14th of 16, well behind From Dawn To Dusk (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Oct '06.
Merry Music (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, effort between last 2, one pace flat, 4th of 15, 6l behind Khasab (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan.
Master Wolfe (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden after 7th, weakened after next, 11th of 15, well behind Commander Vic (11-1) at Taunton 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Sovereign Spirit (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, some progress after 7th, soon ridden, stayed on from 2 out, never troubled leaders, 6th of 16, 19l behind Lodge Lane (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Sonoma (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, 12th of 16, 43l behind Cave of The Giant (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan.
Methodical 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, lost touch approaching 9th, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Air Force One (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
Wild Tonto (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Kinetic Power (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Laudamus 40-1 (9-7) Towards rear, ridden after 8th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 33l behind Russian Trigger (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Sninfia (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Held up, in touch approaching 3rd, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 3rd of 8, well behind Totally Scottish (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f sll hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Rudivale (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up, headway 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 31l behind Cryptic (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Galant Eye (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon no chance, 8th of 11, 38l behind Compton Star (9-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Avant Gardiste (FR) 12-1 (9-12) Held up and behind, blundered badly 5th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Sir Peter (10-11) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
Wun Chai (IRE) 66-1 (10-2) Chased leaders until 6th, soon tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Mickmacmagoole (10-9) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Nov.
Delcombe 33-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, headway after 6th, ridden after 3 out, went 3rd next, kept on same pace, 4th of 18, 4l behind Munching Mike (10-5) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Poppy Maroon 7-4fav (10-4) Made all, hit 14th, in command after 3 out, unchallenged, won at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Mar beating Treasulier (10-7) by 7l, 6 ran.
Benedict Bay 16-1 (10-6) Led until 7th, soon weakened, no chance when pulled up 2 out in race won by Munching Mike (10-5) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft, 18 ran.
Lord Lieutenant (FR) 50-1 (9-7) Chased leader, lost place 3rd, reminders 5th, ridden after 6th, weakened next, 9th of 10, well behind Bay Hawk (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
