always towards rear, weakened from 5 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 6th, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 8th
tracked winner until 6th, soon lost place, weakened after 5 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 11th until 4 out, ridden last, kept on run-in
held up towards rear, headway before 5 out, went 2nd 4 out, kept on run-in, held towards finish
in rear, pushed along 10th, tailed off 6 out, pulled up
made all, ridden and kept on from last
Still Believing has won three times here and finished strongly off a past pace to score last time at Cheltenham. The step up in trip is no problem but a 10lb hike in the weights could be a worry. It would be no surprise to see I Am Colin bounce back reunited with Zac Baker while Port Melon has gone well fresh in the past. Royal Palladium is hard to catch right, however, and Capard King remains out of sorts. GONE TOO FAR has never won beyond 2m4f but this is an easy track and he was placed over this trip at Worcester in August of a higher mark. He’ll have needed his run here last month and better is expected today.
Port Melon (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, reminders before 14th, switched outside and struggling next, 4th 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from next, never on terms, lost place near finish, 5th of 7, 16l behind Shuil Royale (11-5) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in May.
Gone Too Far 33-1 (11-11) In touch, not fluent 6th, mistake 12th, under pressure 5 out, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out, at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Gallery Exhibition (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, ridden 6 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up before last, at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Royal Palladium (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd before 7th until 10th, chased leaders, lost place 13th, soon struggling, behind next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Capard King (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Not always fluent, in rear, behind when pulled up before 15th, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Still Believing (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, closed 9th, not fluent and ridden 13th, went 2nd before 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well to draw clear flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Treaty Girl (11-12) by 10l, 9 ran.
I Am Colin 12-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, blundered 15th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Valleyofmilan (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Tracking leader when unseated rider 2nd, at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
