tracked leader to 5th, chased leaders, chased winner after last, kept on towards finish
led to 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway from 4th, chased leaders 3 out, no impression from next
held up towards rear, effort 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, headway 5th, led 2 out, kept on from last, pushed out
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 5th, led 3 out, headed next, weakened after last
mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, weakened after next
in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, tailed off approaching 4th
held up mid-division,weakened from 5th
Nonrunner
Dianne Sayer's Samizdat, who has won back-to-back races at Carlisle is the highest rated of the 12 runners but he has a double penalty to carry for those successes and may struggle under the burden of 12st 5lb so a better bet looks to be TAR, who gets the vote with Dr Valentine rated the best of the rest. The selection ran creditably when third in this grade at Ludlow in February and has run well in two starts on the flat since then so Tim Vaughan's gelding looks worth chancing back over hurdles today in a race that should not take much winning. Howard Johnson's Mintaka Pass was well beaten on his only start in a bumper before taking a heavy fall on his hurdling debut and is probably best watched, although he may do better now dropped to this grade. Ajman was well held when second to Ann Duffield's Dr Valentine at Sedgefield last month on his debut for Evan Williams and is hard to recommend but there may be more to come from him, although the winner that day has solid claims. Tim Walford's Timocracy has given little sign of encouragement and preference is for Tar.
Samizdat (FR) 11-4fav (11-0) Made all, strongly challenged from 3 out, left in clear lead at last, eased close home, won at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Mar beating Twentynineblack (11-12) by 18l, 7 ran.
Karashar (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, went 3rd approaching 2 out, no extra from last, 6th of 11, 25l behind Sadler's Star (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f sll hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Ajman (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Held up behind, headway and in touch 4th, went 2nd next, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 26l behind Dr Valentine (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sell hdl (5) hvy in Mar.
Herbert Crescent 5-1 (9-3) Slowly away, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, not troubled leaders, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Lady Lam (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Mar (flat).
Mintaka Pass (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, led approaching 3rd, mistake and jumped left, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, in 6th and beaten when fell 2 out, in a race won by Sonowyouno (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct, 13 ran.
Prioryjo 15-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 7, well behind Samizdat (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Tar (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Chased winner, no impression when lost 2nd approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 25l behind Beautiful Vision (11-3) at Ludlow 2m sell hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Timocracy 16-1 (11-0) Towards rear, some headway 6th, ridden and weakened next, 10th of 14, well behind Wester Ross (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Just Dan 66-1 (8-4) Towards rear, reminders over 8f out, never dangerous, 10th of 11, well behind Mountain Forest (8-2) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Mar (flat).
Silk And Roses 22-1 (10-13) In touch, ridden and weakened 4f out, 6th of 7, well behind Chicklemix (10-4) at Fakenham 2m mrs N H flat (4) gs in Feb.
Catch Key (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 39l behind Lord Villez (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
Dr Valentine (FR) 7-4fav (10-7) Made all, wandered approaching 3rd, drew clear from 2 out, well in command when jinked right approaching last, ridden out, easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f sell hdl (5) hvy in Mar beating Ajman (11-0) by 26l, 6 ran.
