led to 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, headway to chase leaders 4th, led approaching 2 out, kept on well from last
held up, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner approaching next, every chance approaching last, one pace
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
raced wide, tracked leaders and keen, weakened from 5th
held up, hampered 1st, never dangerous
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
with leader, led 4th, outpaced and headed approaching 2 out, kept on and no impression after
held up, weakened from 5th
mid-division, unseated rider 1st
The shortlist contains Snow's Ride, Supply And Fix, Spring Breeze and Oldenway, with the vote going to Snow's Ride. As course and distance winners, Supply And Fix and Snow's Ride get solid mentions here, with our preference being for the latter, who has a penalty less to carry than the Irish raider and whose form rates at around the 100 mark. That's decent enough but there are some interesting recruits from the Flat in opposition. Spring Breeze stayed well on the Flat and was a solid 60-plus performer, while Apsara also has mid-60s Flat form enough to give her respect today. Having won from a mark of 74, though, on the Flat, Oldenway, with Tony McCoy booked, gets a very solid mention and we expect him to go well. Lytham also showed Flat winning form - on the all-weather - and showed some promise on his hurdling debut, while George Stubbs won a Flat handicap in 2004 from a mark of 62. All in all, it adds up to an interesting contest, with the vote going to Snow's Ride.
Supply And Fix (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Made all, driven clear 2 out, ridden out flat, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf in Aug beating Coming Again (10-11) by 4l, 8 ran.
Snow's Ride 10-3jt-fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, headway to go 2nd 3 out, led next, soon ridden, kept on flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf in May beating Sterling Guarantee (10-12) by 1l, 14 ran.
George Stubbs (USA) 5-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, no impression, 4th of 10, 18l behind Spring Breeze (10-0) at Catterick 2m hcp (6) gf in Aug (Flat).
Oldenway 25-1 (9-13) Slowly into stride, never on terms, 12th of 15, 14l behind Idealistic (10-10) at York 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (3) gd in Aug (Flat).
Spring Breeze 3-1 (10-0) Led after 4f, clear halfway up straight, driven and stayed on well final 2f, comfortably, won at Catterick 2m hcp (6) gf in Aug beating Reminiscent (9-5) by 7l, 10 ran (Flat).
Apsara 80-1 (10-0) With leader, weakened 3 out, 5th of 16, 10l behind Italiano (10-11) at Catterick 2m 3f nov hdl (E) gs in Mar.
South Shore One 8-1 (10-1) Made most to over 4f out, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 38l behind Lahib The Fifth (11-4) at Hexham 2m nhf (H) gf in Jun.
Lytham (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, weakened 2 out, 7th of 10, 32l behind Flintoff (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (E) gd in May.