behind, ridden and headway after 2 out, led after last, ran on
held up in touch, outpaced 2 out, stayed on approaching last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden and effort approaching last, weakened flat
held up in touch, lost place after 2 out
tracked leader, led 3 out, not fluent last, soon headed, no extra
mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders under pressure approaching last, kept on same pace
in touch, lost place after 4th
led, pushed along 4th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
soon behind
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on well under pressure, not pace of winner
held up mid-division, weakened 3 out
held up mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders approaching last, kept on same pace
mid-division, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, hit 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 5th, chased leaders 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened 2 out
Three Ships is in tremendous form for Jim Best and can complete a hat-trick here at the main expense of Najca De Thaix. The selection has enjoyed wins at Taunton and Market Rasen in the past six weeks or so and with his 7lb penalty he is effectively up 13lb for those wins, the second of which came on similarly soft ground. The slight nagging doubt is that the runner up that day was soundly beaten on Monday, but then he was also soundly beaten by Three Ships, and we will stick with him. Najca De Thaix will relish conditions but he has plenty of weight on his back and more important than that he is running over what looks an inadequate trip. Bay Hawk really wants faster ground, Forfeiter is not without a chance judged on his Plumpton run from November, while Khazar is very interesting returned tio hurdles by Thierry Doumen. But Three Ships is in great nick and can add to his CV here.
Najca De Thaix (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Always prominent, every chance 4 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace after, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Major Euro (10-9) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Kikos (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, close up 3 out, effort 2 out, not quicken, 5th of 12, 15l behind King Caine (10-9) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Khazar (FR) 3-1fav (11-0) Held up, jumped slowly 6th, headway 4 out, ridden next, weakened approaching last, 6th of 10, 14l behind Magot De Grugy (11-8) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.
Joli Classical (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Held up, headway after 4 out, soon one pace, 5th of 10, 5l behind Croon (10-12) at Ludlow 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Three Ships 2-1fav (11-9) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec beating Papillon de Iena (11-5) by 12l, 15 ran.
Carly Bay 50-1 (10-7) Held up, keen early, stumbled 1st, several mistakes after, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Major Euro (10-9) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Le Millenaire (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, mistake 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Natoumba (11-5) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Apr, 15 ran.
It's Rumoured 33-1 (10-7) Chased leader to 4th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 24l behind Kempley Green (11-10) at Kempton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Sunnyarjun 25-1 (10-0) Held up and keen, some progress 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 12th of 17, well behind Jockser (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr '06.
Bay Hawk 18-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 6th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 16, 22l behind Panjo Bere (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Avant Gardiste (FR) 8-1 (10-5) Raced keenly, not fluent 3rd, moved closer before next, hung left and not fluent 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 17, 6l behind Zirkel (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Forfeiter (USA) 14-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden and one pace when hit last, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Silver Prophet (11-1) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Dark Society 7-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 13, 15l behind Breaking Shadow (11-12) at Bangor 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Strider 66-1 (10-11) Towards rear, pecked 5th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 12, 49l behind Royal Wedding (11-0) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Victory Mile (USA) 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, struggling approaching 5th, mistake 6th, no impression, 6th of 14, 43l behind Personal Column (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Doctored 100-1 (10-12) Towards rear, hit 5th and soon behind, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Marsam (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Misbehaviour 10-1 (11-5) Held up, headway after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner in vain approaching last, 2nd of 12, 16l behind Royal Wedding (11-0) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
