prominent and keen, hampered and fell 5th
keen, mid-division, headway 6th, led 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat
chased leaders, led 8th, ridden and headed 2 out, chased winner last, stayed on
held up, hampered 5th, effort approaching 2 out, soon weakened
led, jumped left 5th, headed 8th, weakened after next
held up, slightly hampered 5th, headway 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next
mistakes 3rd, hampered 5th, always behind
mid-division, headway and mistake 3 out, led approaching last, ridden out
held up, steady headway after 6th, outpaced approachign 2 out, rallied and switched right approaching last, stayed on not reach winner
in touch, lost place after 9th, behind when mistake 2 out
with leader, bumped 5th, weakening when mistake 9th
behind, headway after 9th, mistake next, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, hampered 5th, pushed along afrer 6th, mistake next, ridden after 8th, headway 3 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway 6th, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, virtually pulled up flat
behind, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, never near leaders
always behind
mistake 4th, always behind
We are going to narrow this down to Thames, Over The Creek, Bewleys Berry and Brewster, with the vote going to Over The Creek. The selection did us a good turn at Newbury last time, putting firmly behind him a poor performance at Haydock. He has the chance here to further confirm his progressive profile and, accordingly, gets the vote today. Thames also has a likeable profile, and attitude for that matter, and, with his owner and stable back among the winners at the Festival, he too can go well. Bewleys Berry is another promising hurdler and, from the Andrea and Graham Wylie, Howard Johnson and Graham Lee team that has done so well this week, is another to consider, along with Brewster, who has competed with the best at this level this season and is respected. Of the others, Moulin Riche, from the Francois Doumen stable, has form enough to be given a shout, while the Irish, surprisingly, have just the one representative, who looks as though he needs to improve on what he has so far shown. All of which spins us back to the selection, which is Over The Creek.
Bewleys Berry (IRE) 5-6fav Tracked leader, led 5th, clear from 3 out, eased near finish, won at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Jan beating Indy Mood by 10l, 5 ran.
Bob Bob Bobbin 2-5fav Made all, ridden and hit 2 out, challenged last, ran on, won at Warwick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Feb beating Jaunty Times by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Brewster (IRE) 7-4fav Tracked leader, pushed along after 3 out, chased winner from next, stayed on same pace before last, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Ambobo at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Dalvento (IRE) 33-1 Chased leaders, 6th halfway, weakened 3 out, tailed off when fell at the last in race won by Essex at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan, 21 ran.
Gaelic Music (IRE) 11-8fav Led, ridden after 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, no extra and hung left flat, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Comanche War Paint at Taunton 3m nov hdl (E) gs.
Jackson (FR) 7-4fav Prominent, mistake 4th and reminders, headway before 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, well behind Senor Sedona at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (C) sft in Feb.
Keltic Rock 20-1 Prominent, led 3rd to 5th, led again briefly approaching 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced by winner, edged left and one pace flat, 3rd of 16, 20l behind Go For Bust at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl (D) gd.
Moulin Riche (FR) 4-1 Held up, headway to lead 2 out, ridden approaching next, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Mephisto at Haydock 2m 7f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb.
Over The Creek 9-2 Held up, headway approaching 4 out, mistake 3 out, led last, edged slightly right flat, pushed out, won at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Feb beating Omni Cosmo Touch by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Romany Prince 11-4 Held up, took closer order approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Bagan at Doncaster 2m 3f nov hdl (C) gd.
Senor Sedona 5-2 Chased leader, led after 5th, ridden and quickened 2 out, driven out from last, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (C) sft in Feb beating Lord Killeshanra by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Stage By Stage (USA) 7-1 Towards rear, ridden and effort after 7th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 10, 26l behind Brewster at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (B) gd in Nov.
Thames (IRE) 1-2fav Tracked leaders, led on bit approaching 2 out, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (D) sft in Feb beating Corlande by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Va Vavoom (IRE) 11-4 Prominent, left 2nd before 6th, led before 8th, ridden and headed when mistake 2 out, weakened soon after, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Ferimon at Newbury 3m nh nov hdl (D) gs.
Washington Lad (IRE) 10-1 Settled 3rd, 2nd 4 out, disputed lead after 3 out, led next, mistake last, stayed on well under pressure, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 3 hvy in Jan beating Asian Maze by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Without A Doubt 25-1 In touch, weakened 6th, soon behind, 9th of 18, 41l behind Julius Caesar at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs.
Kings Bay 6-4jt-fav In touch and pushed along when fell at the 5th in race won by Marsh Run at Carlisle 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (D) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Lady Zephyr (IRE) 9-2 Held up last, not fluent 4th, stayed on under pressure after 2 out, weakened and no impression run-in, 4th of 10, 14l behind Ambobo at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Get My Drift (IRE) 9-4fav Held up in touch, headway from 4 out, chased winner from 2 out, no impression when hit last, kept on flat, held near finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Ferimon at Newbury 3m nh nov hdl (D) gs.
Laska De Thaix (FR) 2-1 In touch, led on bit approaching 3 out, soon clear, eased close home, won at Exeter 3m nov hdl (E) gs beating Lord Killeshanra by 12l, 14 ran.
