held up, headway after 5th, weakening when blundered 3 out
held up in rear, raced wide, headway 7th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led last, ridden flat, driven out
held up mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in rear, raced wide after 3rd, headway 6th, chased leaders approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, took 2nd flat
chased leaders, ridden 6th, weakened after 3 out
held up, chased leaders 6th, led 3 out, headed last, lost 2nd flat
led, clear when hit 4th, headed and hit 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, pushed along after 5th, weakened after 3 out
held up, weakened from 7th, pulled up before 2 out
A poor claimer here but something has to win and the principals look to be Sun King, Random Native and Mr Ex and the confident vote is given to Sun King. The selection was a fair third behind Red Sun last time out, he has plenty in hand on official figures and under conditions that suit he will be hard to beat. Random Native rates the main danger on his best form but the suspicion is he may just need the run after a 548-day break. Mr Ex has the ability to win a race of this nature but he also has the attitude to go with it. Of the others Bobansheil improved for blinkers last time out but the second Bluto has since let down the form and with this in mind for the winner we return to Sun King who has plenty of ticks in the right boxes today.
Rucolino (IRE) 66-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, struggling 7th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Mensio (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Sun King 6-4fav (11-1) Held up, headway 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Red Sun (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f clm hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Mr Lear (USA) 13-2 (11-3) Held up, pushed along and headway approaching 2 out, fourth and in touch when lost action and pulled up in race won by Sir Night (10-5) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gf in Oct '05, 10 ran.
Ashstanza 80-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until weakened 6th, tailed off, 14th of 17, well behind Lago (10-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f amt hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov.
Diamond Mick 12-1 (11-7) Chased leader, led 2nd, headed approaching 11th, ridden after 5 out, weakened approaching next, 8th of 13, 48l behind Ocarina (11-10) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
Frankincense (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, 7th of 13, 44l behind Flower Haven (10-13) at Hexham 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Nov.
Mr Ex (ARG) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, driven and headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 39l behind Bold Pioneer (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Naval Attache 150-1 (11-0) Led, clear until 4th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Moonhawk (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Nov, 16 ran.
Bobansheil (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) In touch, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden next, edged right and led flat, kept on, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gs in Dec beating Bluto (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Namarian (IRE) 66-1 (9-12) Always towards rear, 12th of 14, well behind dhtrs Pertemps Networks (10-12) & Bantry Bere (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Random Native (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Held up, not fluent 3rd, headway 8th, mistake 3 out, still going well, close up 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 14, 14l behind Sultan Fontenaille (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jul '06.
