chased leaders, ridden after 6th, soon weakened
held up and keen, mistake and unseated rider 3rd
mid-division, headway 6th, led and hit last, ridden out
held up and pulled hard, headway approaching 3 out, hampered and stumbled soon after 2 out, switched right approaching last, ran on towards finish
in touch, led approaching 3 out, ridden when jumped left 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, no extra flat
behind, kept on from 3 out, never dangerous
prominent, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened quickly
in touch, mistake 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear
behind, slightly hampered 3rd, headway after 6th, ridden when mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division, lost place after 5th, soon behind
chased leaders to 6th, soon behind
From a shortlist containing The Castilian, Jamaaron and Pilca, we will side with The Castilian. Pilca comes into things based on summer Uttoxeter form, while the sole course and distance winner in the race, Sir Walter, still seems to retain enough ability to play some sort of part today. A return to his October form would give The Castilian a fair chance, while, lightly raced over hurdles, Jamaaron looks fairly weighted based on a decent Catterick run last time. A tongue-tie could well now help Waziri's cause, and, given that he has run well here before, Chariot might go well at a price. Sunset King comes here on the back of a fair Wincanton run and is not without hope, while Life Estates drops to this grade for the first time and the market should be given the once over. Dropped to this grade for the first time last time, John Jorrocks ran his best race to date and is entitled to some respect, while Graham Lee is an interesting booking for So Cloudy. Finally, Lovely Lulu ran her best race from this mark in April but, along with Another Windfall, races from out of the weights. In a modest event then, we will take a chance on The Castilian.
Pilca (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Prominent, led 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Barton Gate (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (G) hvy in Dec.
Sir Walter (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Led to 6th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 49l behind Nippy Des Mottes (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Dec.
Barella (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Held up in 5th, headway to challenge 6th, weakened after 3 out, no chance when blundered 2 out, 5th of 6, well behind Play The Melody (11-3) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) sft in Dec.
Canadian Storm 6-1 (10-12) Held up and keen, some headway 4th, ridden after 4 out, soon one pace, 7th of 16, 16l behind Twist Bookie (11-1) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (F) gs in Dec.
The Castilian (FR) 11-1 (10-4) Held up, not fluent 3rd, hit next, soon driven along, no impression, 8th of 14, 28l behind Return Home (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl (4) sft.
Jamaaron 9-1 (10-7) Mid-division, hampered 4th, headway 3 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 15, 4l behind No Commission (10-12) at Catterick 2m 4yo nov sll hdl (5) gd.
Waziri (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Led to 2nd, chased leader until led 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 4th of 17, 15l behind Ishka Baha (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gd in Dec.
Weet Watchers 14-1 (10-10) Held up and behind, never dangerous, 7th of 13, 46l behind Balmoral Queen (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (F) hvy in Dec.
Chariot (IRE) 13-2 (10-10) Held up, driven and headway 2 out, weakened, 4th of 7, 17l behind Zeloso (10-10) at Folkestone 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) sft in Dec.
Sunset King (USA) 100-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, led 3 out, soon ridden and headed, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 11l behind Return Home (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl (4) sft.
Simiola 33-1 (9-12) In touch, lost place 3rd, mistake 4th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Blue Mariner (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f sll hdl (G) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Life Estates 150-1 (10-7) Mid-division, some headway after 5th, soon weakened, 14th of 17, well behind Sea The Light (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (D) gs in Nov.
John Jorrocks (FR) 7-1 (10-5) Led 2nd to 4th, led again 5th, headed 2 out, edged right and weakened flat, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Irish Blessing (11-6) at Leicester 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft.
So Cloudy 16-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 3rd, ridden to lead 2 out, weakened and headed soon after, 6th of 13, 28l behind Blue Mariner (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f sll hdl (G) gd in Nov.
Lovely Lulu 7-2 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon under pressure and beaten, 5th of 7, 20l behind Zeloso (10-10) at Folkestone 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) sft in Dec.
Another Windfall 66-1 (10-2) Led to before 3rd, led 5th to 7th, weakened approaching 3 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Penny's Crown (11-3) at Taunton 3m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Mega Chic (FR) 100-1 (10-10) Held up rear, ridden and effort 4th, never a danger, 5th of 12, well behind Sharp Rigging (10-10) at Hereford 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (E) gd in Mar '04.
