chased leaders, pushed along on outside halfway, effort and ridden over 1f out, no impression when hung left inside final furlong
pressed leader, led over 3f out, ridden and pressed 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong
narrow lead to over 3f out, chased winner to well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
outpaced and soon tailed off
held up, no impression final 2f
held up, ridden and no impression over 2f out
keen hold, prominent, chased winner well over 2f out, ridden to challenge 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
Onceuponatime is entitled to win this given that he is 6lbs better off with HARLECH CASTLE for three-parts-of-a-length when they met here last month, but he finds little when it is needed and we think that Jim Boyle's runner may be able to beat him again. The selection has it to do, but last time he was in good form he backed-up a win, and with the yard going well and his own good attitude that might come his way again. An obvious danger is Autumn Blades, also carrying a penalty here for a narrow Lingfield win last time. His only win here came over 7f, however, and as he has largely been campaigned over that trip he probably does not possess enough speed to win this. Green Park won last time but appears to prefer Wolverhampton to here and is taken on on that basis. Xpress Maite is well handicapped on his best form and goes very well at this track, so he would have to be considered a leading player, while Resplendent Alpha also acts on the Fibresand, though he has never yet won on it. He comes from a yard ticking over well enough, but we will just side with Harlech Castle to defy a penalty.
Autumn Blades (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) In touch, ridden 2f out, chased leading pair approaching final furlong, driven, lost 3rd post, 4th of 7, 1 3/4l behind L'Hirondelle (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Harlech Castle 6-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, not clear run and switched left 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec beating Onceaponatime (8-11) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Xpres Maite 7-1 (9-1) In rear, ridden and struggling from over 3f out, 9th of 11, 9l behind Snow Bay (8-10) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Dec.
Burnwynd Boy 20-1 (8-9) Prominent, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out, 8th of 9, 21l behind Eton Rifles (8-9) at Hamilton 6f cond Stakes (2) gd in Sep.
Green Park (IRE) 8-1 (8-4) Held up in rear and keen, headway 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec beating Nickel Silver (8-10) by shd, 8 ran.
Resplendent Alpha 15-2 (8-12) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on towards finish, 4th of 11, 3l behind Perfect Act (9-1) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Onceaponatime (IRE) 11-4fav (9-2) Mid-division on inside, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Charles Parnell (8-9) at Southwell 6f hacp 0-70 (5) fbs.
