made all, clear approaching 3 out, easily
chased leaders, chased winner approaching 3 out, no impression
tracked leaders, chased winner after 6th, weakened from 3 out
chased winner from after 6th, weakened 4 out
held up towards rear, hit 4th, reminders soon after, struggling approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up after 7th
held up, weakened from 7th, tailed off
tracked leaders, weakened from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in rear, jumped slowly 4th, weakened from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Withdrawn
Aces Four has the form to beat Canada Street, Commanche Sioux and Duke Orsino in the opening event on the card. Ferdy Murphy has his team ticking over nicely at present, and Aces Four, who appeared to win with something in hand on his first start for the yard at Ludlow last month, can handle this drop back in trip to follow up. The seven-year-old was trained by Billy McKeown when finishing fourth to Murphy's useful King Of Confusion at Kelso earlier, and so the Middleham handler will know fully the limitations of his recent recruit. He is certainly not highly tried here when you consider that he has come up against animals of the calibre of Rasharrow and Wild Cane Ridge in the past, so he should safely defy a penalty. The lacklustre efforts of the Howard Johnson inmates of late is a mystery, but they will surely all come good soon and so it would be folly to rule out a good run from Canada Street, while Commanche Sioux, although having more to do than when causing a shock in a heavy-ground affair at Market Rasen last time. Duke Orsino ran well at a big price over the course-and distance late last month but is another with more to do, and we have no hesitation in nominating Aces Four.
Aces Four (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 7th, led 3 out, clear when hit 2 out, easily, won at Ludlow 3m mdn hdl (4) gd in Feb beating One Love (10-11) by 7l, 16 ran.
Canada Street (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Prominent, blundered 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 14, 17l behind Bougoure (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Duke Orsino (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 7th, hit 2 out, chased winner from last, kept on, 2nd of 17, 4l behind Love That Benny (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Le Millenaire (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Prominent, pushed along 7th, mistake next, soon outpaced, 8th of 17, 30l behind Love That Benny (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Mountain Mix 100-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, weakened 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out pulled up 4 out in race won by Money Trix (11-4) at Ayr 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb, 11 ran.
Monifieth 33-1 (10-9) Soon behind, lost touch halfway, kept on from 3 out, never nearer, 5th of 8, 31l behind Nikola (11-2) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Commanche Sioux 40-1 (10-1) Held up, slightly outpaced 5th, headway approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, led flat, ran on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy beating Mungo Jerry (11-2) by 5l, 9 ran.
Speedro (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Never better than mid-division, 10th of 18, more than 3 1/2l behind Lance (11-9) at Thurles 2m 2f nhf gs in Dec '03.
