held up, steady headway and hit 8th, went 2nd before 2 out, led well before last, drew 15 lengths clear when eased final 100yds
tracked leader, led 6th, ridden and hit 2 out, headed well before last, no chance with winner
jumped poorly in rear, well behind when blundered 6th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, mistake 2nd, driven along and weakened from 6th, well behind when pulled up before 8th
mid-division, driven along from 6th, weakened before 2 out
raced keenly, led until headed 6th, weakened rapidly and pulled up after next
in touch, effort to chase leaders 5th, weakened 7th, soon tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders in 4th, effort to chase leaders when blundered 3 out, plugged on approaching last to take poor 3rd run-in
held up in rear, mistake 4th, headway to chase leading quartet from 8th, went poor 3rd between last 2 until run-in
rear, ridden and struggling from 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
Barranco is out to get recent losses back and can do so over Graffiti Tongue, Avanti Tiger and Peppershot. Barranco finished fourth here in November and since then has been there or thereabouts without ever really looking likely to justify support. However he has been running in handicaps and now meets some equally poor opponents off levels and over a trip that will bring his stamina into play. He gets a massive 21lb from his main rival Graffiti Tongue and that should be enough to sway things his way today. The latter has benefited from the assistance of Tony McCoy three times since joining Evan Williams but has been hit hard by the handicapper for his sterling efforts and returns from a slight knock as well. The old boy will do well shrug off today's burden but he should be placed at least. Avanti Tiger has failed to respond to blinkers on his last two outings, and Peppershot is still a maiden after 22 career starts, so all in all Barranco is the percentage call in a race that will take little winning.
Graffiti Tongue (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Soon pushed along in rear, reminders 5th, ridden 7th, went 3rd at 10th, chased winner after 3 out, no further progress, 2nd of 6, 20l behind Pikestaff (9-13) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) frm in Jul.
Avanti Tiger (IRE) 13-2 (9-11) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 4th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 14, 27l behind Spectested (11-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) sft in Dec.
Bagwell Ben Karinga Bay gelding, half-brother to a winning pointer.
Baileys Prize (USA) 9-2 (11-8) Held up in touch, ridden after 6th, soon beaten and tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Beau Coup (11-6) at N Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in May '04.
Barranco (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-4) In touch, ridden from 6th, plugged on, 3rd of 14, 16l behind Methodical (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f cnd sll hcp hdl (5) gd.
Magic Red 33-1 (10-3) Led, ridden and headed 6th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, 45l behind True Mariner (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Dec.
Peppershot 25-1 (10-13) Towards rear, ridden after 7th, weakened 2 out, 4th of 11, 19l behind Kings Castle (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gs.
Somewhere My Love 20-1 (9-8) Tailed off from 5th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Critical Stage (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f clm hdl (F) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
