slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
led after 1f, headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, one pace
tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 3f out, soon lost place
towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
soon tracking leader, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace
prominent, led 2f out, driven out
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
led for a furlong, chased leaders until weakened 2f out
KAMES PARK has been called a few names in the past but he's on a roll at present; we'll stick with the Guest runner ahead of Taste The Wine and Prince Charlemagne. The eight-year-old races off a mark of 63 here having gone up a total of 9lbs for two wins, firstly here and then a follow-up at Wolverhampton. He was rated in the nineties at his peak and whilst nowhere near that good now, he's found his level and should take all the beating here against largely out-of-form sorts. Taste The Wine is up 4lbs in defeat, so whilst that effort was a good one against some in-form types he looks just about opposable with the rise off-putting. Even so he should run well, especially as the likely strong pace should help, and that pace should also assist Prince Charlemagne. Gary Moore's charge likes it here and has been dropped a couple of pounds, so it'd be no surprise to see him figure and he just shades Tyrana as best of the rest. Ian Williams' yard is going very well and this one won nicely last time at this course, so he merits attention. No Wonga has been running reasonably over hurdles and looks feasibly treated on his form in that sphere, so he and Slick Mover need watching in the market. The last-named represents Brendan Powell and although he disappointed over hurdles recently, his profile is an unexposed one and it'd be no surprise were the best still to come. David Pipe had a flat winner a week or so ago and so Dream Esteem is worth a mention for the same owner, but he has a lengthy absence to overcome and with Croix Rouge one of several not at their best of late, our attentions return to in-form Kames Park who can secure the hat-trick.
Kames Park (IRE) 5-1 (8-7) Slowly away, raced in last place, wide and good headway entering final 2f, ridden to lead and carried head high inside final furlong driven out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec beating Little Richard (8-7) by nk, 7 ran.
Ibbetson (USA) 14-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 5l behind Sapphire Prince (9-3) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (5) gf in Oct.
Taste The Wine (IRE) 4-1 (8-4) Tracked leaders, wide and headway 3f out, soon joined leader, ridden to lead and edged left entering final 2f, soon challenged, driven inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 8, shd behind Quinsman (8-9) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Dream Esteem 16-1 (9-7) Mid-division, effort over 3f out, soon beaten, 10th of 11, 39l behind Beautiful Lady (9-2) at Thirsk 1m 4f 3yo fll hcp (5) gs in Aug '08.
No Wonga 11-4fav (9-0) Held up in touch, took closer order 7f out, went 3rd 4f out, ridden 2f out, one pace, lost 3rd inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 2l behind Royal Trooper (9-8) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Nov.
Golden Games (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 7, 13l behind Sitwell (9-0) at Folkestone 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.
Croix Rouge (USA) 100-1 (8-1) Behind, some late headway, never nearer, 6th of 13, 9l behind Tripitaka (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Slick Mover (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, no impression on leaders, 5th of 13, 3l behind Silent Act (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Oct.
Jordan's Light (USA) 33-1 (9-8) Ridden 7f out, always in rear, 12th of 13, 40l behind Shadows Lengthen (8-10) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov.
Majd Aljazeera 20-1 (8-8) In touch, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 5l behind Arty Crafty (8-11) at Kempton 1m 2f stks 0-55 (6) pol in Sep.
Prince Charlemagne (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, some headway final furlong, never troubled leaders, 8th of 12, 6l behind King Red (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Shanafarahan (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Took keen hold, held up in mid-division, headway to lead 8f out, pushed along over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 11, 9l behind Dazzling Begum (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Tyrana (GER) 11-4fav (9-0) Always prominent, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec beating Silken Promise (8-13) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
