held up in touch, headway on outer over 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
led to halfway, pushed along over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
tracked leader, led halfway, headed over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, ridden over over 2f out, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, just held on
held up mid-division, ridden 2f out, no impression from over 1f out
in rear, pushed along over 4f out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, weakened 4f out
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
slowly into stride, towards rear, soon in touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, just held
An open heat where it might be worth chancing MANEKI NEKO to edge home in front from Master Nimbus and Simple Jim. Edwin Tuer has had his runners in good form just lately and he has kept the eight-year-old in training after a setback kept him off the track for around 18 months, until a recent pipe-opener at Catterick. This fast ground will suit him, he stays well and from a mark 6lbs lower than his last successul pitch we will suggest him at price. Master Nimbus is very good over this trip and loves ratlting fast ground. He too has dropped to a good mark once more and he showed his wellbeing at Ripon last week, so he is feared. Simple Jim is another throughly consistent performer over staying trips and he is handicapped to be competitive yet again, although he might just have a few pounds too many to shoulder. Blackstone Vegas returned from a two-month break with a Wolverhampton win last time, breaking his maiden tag in the process. Now he has the winning habit he might be capable of going well in the face of a 5lb rise and he is respected, though a chance is taken on Maneki Neko.
Hi Dancer 10-1 (8-8) Held up in main group, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 8th of 13, 11l behind Hollins (9-4) at York 2m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Master Nimbus 7-2 (9-1) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders in 3rd over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Patavium (9-2) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Zefooha (FR) 16-1 (8-12) Led, headed over 2f out, one pace, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Capable Guest (9-1) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Sep.
Maneki Neko (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 7, 6l behind Hel's Angel (10-0) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Simple Jim (FR) 6-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway 3f out, kept on from over 1f out, no impression, 4th of 12, 10l behind Park's Prodigy (8-12) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Oct.
Blackstone Vegas 5-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, led well inside final furlong, driven out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f am hcp 0-55 (6) pol beating Lisbon Lion (10-5) by 1l, 11 ran.
Cripsey Brook 28-1 (8-10) In touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 12l behind Silent Lucidity (8-7) at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
Obara d'Avril (FR) 20-1 (7-12) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden and weakened well over 1f out, 5th of 8, 16l behind Patavium (9-2) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Crosby Jemma 16-1 (8-2) Slowly away, always behind, tailed off over 3f out, last of 13, 42l behind Ardent Prince (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcap (6) pol in Jan '09.
Dulce Domum 33-1 (8-9) Prominent, chased leader over 12f out until 3f out, no impression from over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 5l behind If I Had Him (8-13) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Ocean Bright (USA) 4-1 (8-2) Dwelt, mid-division on inside, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, never on terms, 6th of 10, 9l behind Tillietudlem (8-2) at Musselburgh 1m 6f app hcp (6) gf.
River Danube 40-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 6f out, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 9, 20l behind Merrion Tiger (9-1) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.
