held up towards rear, pushed along 1st, headway to chase leaders from 2 out, went poor 3rd and no impression before last
towards rear, some progress 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear, driven after 3 out, plugged on but never a factor
mid-division, ridden and losing place when mistake 4th, struggling after and soon tailed off
towards rear, some progress 5th, struggling after, tailed off
in touch, headway to chase leading pair 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, ridden 5th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in rear, ridden into mid-field before 4th, pulled up next
mid-division, under pressure before 4th, soon struggling, tailed off
always in rear, ridden and lost touch 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, chased winner from 3 out, beaten between last 2 and weakened before last
chased leader, ridden 5th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, went moderate 2nd before last, no chance with winner
led to 3 out, weakened quickly before next, tailed off
took keen hold, mostly chased leader, led 3 out, drew well clear between last 2, pushed along, run-in
Peter Bowen does well with the small number of horse that he sends to the track so Petroglyph needs consideration, however in a weak race the feeling is that recent winner DOCTORED can oblige again. Daniel O'Brien's eight year old was a runaway winner at the track last time out when obliging at 3/1. That was his first win since 2004 and he can be fancied to run a big race despite an 8lb rise in the weights. Rhetorical is normally fairly consistent but the fact that he is yet to win in 33 starts sounds the alarm bells, Drizzi has a turn around in the weights with the selection for their clash in December, whilst Manathon only has one win to his name but his previous third to Option Money at Newton Abbot reads well in the context of this race. Achieved should be watched in the betting in comparison to his stablemate Doctored, That's For Sure, Atahuelpa and Etoile D'Or are three others for consideration, but it is the aforementioned Doctored who can sweeten the medicine.
Doctored 3-1 (10-9) Chased leader to after 2nd, led between last 2, drew well clear before last, pushed out run-in, won at Folkestone 2m 1f amt hcp hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Drizzi (10-13) by 21l, 5 ran.
Atahuelpa 11-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway after 3rd, soon hampered, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Naughty By Nature (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Weststern (GER) 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until 5th, soon behind and pulled up 2 out in race won by Kilmeena Magic (10-9) at Kempton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gd in Nov, 18 ran.
Tooka 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, hit 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 16, 27l behind Slo Mo Shun (10-3) at Towcester 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
Rhetorical 5-2fav (11-4) Led, headed before 3 out, soon under pressure and weakened, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Storm Haven (11-0) at Fakenham 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
Petroglyph 16-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway from 6th, kept on to go moderate 4th flat, 4th of 13, 25l behind Circus Rose (11-2) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Primed Up (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 13th of 16, 47l behind Tytheknot (11-5) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar '07.
Drizzi (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Led after 2nd, driven and headed between last 2, soon beaten, hit last, 2nd of 5, 21l behind Doctored (10-9) at Folkestone 2m 1f amt hcp hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Achieved 100-1 (10-9) Last pair, ridden and struggling after 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Martys Mission (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Etoile d'Or (IRE) 25-1 (9-13) Mid-division, mid-division 5th, challenged 2 out, one pace approaching last, 6th of 15, 11l behind Mount Benger (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
That's For Sure 8-1 (10-10) Towards rear, struggling when hit 3 out, stayed on from next, never dangerous, 4th of 15, 23l behind Noble Minstrel (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Jun.
Red 50-1 (9-11) Took keen hold, tracked leader, slow jump 4th, steadily lost place, under pressure and weakened after 2 out, 8th of 14, 21l behind Ruby Crown (10-10) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl (4) gs.
Festival Dreams 150-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, behind after 4th, tailed off, last of 12, well behind Simarian (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Spartan Encore 14-1 (10-0) Led, 6th then beaten 2 out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Mount Benger (11-8) at Folkestone 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
She's No Muppet 100-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, keen, weakened 4 out, 11th of 12, well behind Wildbach (10-10) at Chepstow 2m clm hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Manathon (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Mid-division, driven 7th, some progress next, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 17, 23l behind Charge It (11-7) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Sept.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway when mistake 3 out, ridden and every chance approaching next, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 17, 13l behind Tarkesar (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl (5) sft in Dec.
