in touch, headway 3rd, led approaching 2 out, ridden last, ran on
held up, hampered 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression
held up, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
with leader, left in lead 5th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, rallied last, unable to quicken towards finish
tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, one pace flat
My Sharp Grey gets the vote over Sheer Guts here but Niembro, Frixos and the first-time blinkered Cliquey could go well at bigger prices. The selection won a Stratford seller at the end of October and then ran creditably in defeat at Plumpton in a claimer last time (and Cliquey has something to find on that form) so has clear chances based on those efforts. Sheer Guts won a Towcester seller on his sole run to date so has to be competitive in a similar race. Fine Frenzy won as a two-year-old on the Flat but has never raced beyond seven furlongs. Niembro has shown promise in three starts over hurdles, the second of which has worked out well - certainly when placed in the context of this race, so he has to be on the shortlist here. Frixos was not far behind him on the first occasion they met at Huntingdon so cannot be ruled out on that basis given this drop in grade. Cliquey hails from a stable in form and, although already beaten in a Uttoxeter seller, that was over longer trip and he is blinkered for the first time today. Overall, though, and with Jamie Moore taking a useful three pounds off his back, we'll side with My Sharp Grey.
