always mid-division
chased leaders, ridden 2 out, outpaced approaching last, kept on flat, took 3rd towards finish
held up in rear, headway from 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden and hung left well before last, soon beaten
mid-division on outer, in touch from 3rd, challenged 2 out, led approaching last, kept on well flat
chased leader to 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, raced keenly, some headway when not fluent 3 out, no impression after
mid-division, raced keenly, not fluent 2 out, headway approaching last, stayed on flat
in touch, hit 2 out, soon beaten
held up, slightly checked after 3 out, headway after 2 out, beaten approaching last
held up, slightly checked after 3 out, soon switched wide, headway approaching last, kept on flat
prominent, ridden after 2 out, outpaced when not fluent last, stayed on flat
held up in rear, slightly checked after 3 out, never dangerous
mid-division, effort after 2 out, beaten approaching last
prominent, ridden 2 out, 3rd and outpaced between last 2, not fluent last, kept on flat
led, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened flat
not fluent 3rd, always in rear
took keen hold in touch, not fluent 2nd, weakened from 2 out
held up, raced keenly, never dangerous
chased leaders, weakened and eased approaching last where mistake
We've compiled more of a long-list than a short-list for the finale and Poquelin wouldn't be a confident choice but our choice he is, ahead of the likes of Light Yield, Motorway and Mous Of Men. We'll start with Motorway as he threatened to be an exciting hurdler a couple of years back only for injury to intervene. He was having his first run in nigh on a year when winning a competitive race at Newbury last month and should hold every chance from just a 7lb higher mark. He faces different ground this evening though and has to lay the spectre of the dreaded bounce factor to rest. Mous Of Men won twice in January and his modest run at Uttoxeter on his latest start wasn't due to the handicapper collaring him. He still has to prove his competitiveness from his revised mark but of more concern is whether he can put that run behind him. The booking of McCoy for Light Yield takes the eye and interest in his chances would increase if his shrewd connections were to give off positive vibes. He needs to step up on the form he's shown so far but is unexposed. The selection has to conclusively prove that he can handle this track but he ran well enough in the Triumph to indicate that it won't be a problem. He lost his way a little before Christmas and then unseated at Aintree on his return to action so he has a number of questions to answer too but the feeling is that he has more to offer and Poquelin is the tentative pick.
Poquelin (FR) 17-2 (11-7) Held up in mid-division and keen when unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Pearl King (10-10) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd, 21 ran.
King's Revenge 7-2fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, went 3rd approaching last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Motorway (11-4) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Mar.
Bureaucrat 80-1 (11-0) Held up, kept on same pace from 3 out, 7th of 21, 19l behind Pearl King (10-10) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd.
Katies Tuitor 4-1 (11-11) In touch, led approaching last, headed last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 10, nk behind Buster Hyvonen (11-3) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Motorway (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed 2 out, rallied gamely, led flat, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Mar beating Panjo Bere (11-6) by 2l, 11 ran.
Pepporoni Pete (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Held up, blundered 8th, struggling after next, eased 2 out, tired when fell 2 out in race won by Mahogany Blaze (11-9) at Kempton 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec, 4 ran.
Dishdasha (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Held up, headway after 4 out, stayed on from next, 5th of 21, 17l behind Pearl King (10-10) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd.
Mous Of Men (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Held up, headway 7th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 11, 34l behind Khachaturian (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Mar.
Iffy 15-2 (11-2) Held up in rear until fell 5 out in race won by Fleet Street (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar '07, 12 ran.
Wise Owl 13-2 (11-12) In touch, ridden behind leaders 2 out, switched left approaching last, kept on, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Cnoc Moy (10-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Only For Sue 13-2 (11-5) Tracked leader throughout, ridden to lead approaching last, ran on, won at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (2) sft in Dec '06 beating Michael Muck (11-5) by 6l, 8 ran.
Day To Remember 33-1 (11-10) Held up behind, weakened before 3 out, last of 13, well behind I'm So Lucky (11-6) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Folk Tune (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 5th of 9, 8l behind Halla San (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Light Yield (USA) 9-4 (11-4) Led to 3rd, ridden when not fluent 5th, soon outpaced, rallied from 2 out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Stratford 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Mar beating Fredo (10-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Moon Star (GER) 9-2 (11-8) Prominent when lost action and eased before 2 out, 7th of 13, 30l behind I'm So Lucky (11-6) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Liberty Seeker (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Towads rear, hit 10th, close up 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 6th of 10, 11l behind Ball O Malt (10-11) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gf in Jul '06.
Le Burf (FR) 3-1 (11-9) Held up, mistakes, headway 8th, ridden 3 out, one pace, 5th of 9, 9l behind Green Gamble (10-1) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
Kickahead (USA) 16-1 (9-11) Held up and behind, blundered 3rd, hit 7th, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 43l behind Smoothly Does It (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
Leamington Lad (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Prominent, chased leader 7th, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 4th of 10, 13l behind Liberia (10-7) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
