always behind, mistake 4th, struggling 6th, tailed off
jumped badly, jumped violently left and hit rail 1st, mistake 2nd, midfield, weakened 5th, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders, not fluent and weakened 2 out
took keen hold, chased leaders, challenged from 5th, upsides last, driven and every chance flat, held towards finish
chased leaders, led 4th, headed 2 out, mistake last, weakened and hung left flat
led to 4th, weakened rapidly 6th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
in touch, ridden and weakened 6th, tailed off
always behind, tailed off 6th
soon struggling in rear, tailed off and pulled up after 5th
towards rear, mistake 6th, mid-division when mistake and weakened 3 out
always towards rear, ridden and struggling 6th, tailed off
Nonrunner
ERMINE SEA can show the benefit of his debut by getting the better of Fassaroe; others of interest include Search For Gold and Nothing's Easy. The selection was a fair sort on the Flat for John Gosden with the highlight of his career being his Queen's Vase third. His last run in that sphere came in 2006 so he may well have needed the run at Doncaster where he finished a highly creditable third behind Quwetwo. The form is working out well enough and normal improvement should see him go close. Fassaroe sets the standard and may benefit from cheekpieces and this longer trip so he rates the main danger. Nordwind ran a fine race in a competitive handicap on his latest start and isn't underestimated but his chance is there for all to see. Nothing's Easy was beaten a long way on his hurdling bow but showed enough in a bumper to be worth a second look along with stablemate Astrodome whose debut came behind Torphichen. Search For Gold's last two starts have also been in decent contests and he's of interest facing this more realistic task but Ermine Sea is the clear pick following his eyecatching debut.
Balableu (FR) 100-1 (11-4) Mid-division until weakened after 3 out, 14th of 16, 49l behind Riverside Theatre (11-4) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Blind Faith (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Jumped left and unseated rider in race won by Aachen (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 11 ran.
Daring Racer (GER) 33-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up in rear, ridden and outpaced after 6th, never a factor, 5th of 10, 17l behind Intac (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Ermine Sea 12-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden 3 out, kept on, 3rd of 17, 15l behind Quwetwo (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Fassaroe Evensfav (10-12) In touch, headway 5th, ridden and close up when jumped left 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 16, 3l behind Covert Mission (10-2) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Giggles O'Shea (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In rear, ridden and struggling after 5th, lost touch when pulled up 5 out in race won by Rear Gunner (10-10) at Folkestone 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb, 15 ran.
Missinlucan (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Steadied start, pulled hard well in rear, always behind, 8th of 13, well behind Samsons Son (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
My Jim Fan 50-1 (10-11) Disputed lead, ridden along over 4f out, steadily lost place, 7th of 12, 28l behind The Red Laird (10-11) at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn nhf (6) hvy in Feb.
Dancing Valentine 100-1 (10-11) Behind from 4th, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Ainama (11-4) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Ede's The Best 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, under pressure when carried wide on bend 7f out, behind after, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Tara Taylor (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nhf (6) gs in Jan.
Silver Wager 50-1 (10-9) Towards rear, pushed along 6f out, plugged on final 2f, 7th of 14, 16l behind Tara Taylor (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nhf (6) gs in Jan.
Astrodome 33-1 (10-12) Chased leaders in 4th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, 20l behind Torphichen (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Nordwind (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, not clear run and switched left before 2 out, ran on flat, gaining on winner towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Nortonthorpe Lad (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Nothing's Easy (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Pulled hard, mid-division, mistake 1st, blundered 6th, no headway, 9th of 16, well behind Acordeon (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nh mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
One Upmanship 13-2 (10-10) Mid-division, headway after 5th, mistake 6th, weakening when mistake 2 out, 8th of 13, 36l behind La Lambertine (10-10) at Taunton 2m 1f 3yo nov sll hdl (G) gd in Nov '04.
Search For Gold (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Always in rear, struggling after 3 out, tailed off, last of 9, well behind According To Dick (11-2) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
