held up, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, outpaced after next, kept on, no impression
led, hit 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, headed approaching 3 out, soon headed, outpaced from next, kept on from last
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression
held up in touch, weakened 4 out
held up, not fluent 9th, smooth headway 4 out, led next, clear last, ran on well
tracked leaders, weakened 4 out
Magnificent Seven can stop Tickateal from repeating last year's victory in this race, with Bafana Boy the other likely candidate. Not too many can be fancied here, and despite going up a total of 6lb for his last-gasp effort here last time, Magnificent Seven is taken to maintain the form over Tickateal on today's terms. The latter travelled well throughout when the pair met here 16-days ago, but had no answer to the winner's late burst, and will struggle to turn the tables today. It was Richard Johnson who gave the selection a peach of a ride then, and Paddy Brennan is a more than able substitute. Bafana Boy is slightly better off at the weights after finishing fifth in the aforementioned contest, and as that was his first outing in nearly six months, he may do better. However, he was sent off favourite last time and failed to deliver the goods, so the jury is out on whether there will be enough improvement in him. The rest make no appeal, and we shall take Magnificent Seven to register another course-and-distance success.
Edgehill (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Held up, hit 4 out, headway next, soon ridden and no impression, 10th of 20, 31l behind Rothbury (11-8) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (3) gd in Nov.
Kharak (FR) 20-1 (11-8) In touch, pushed along after 6th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Imtihan (10-7) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Apr, 17 ran.
Magnificent Seven (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, led after 8th, headed before 3 out, lead again last, all out, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Dec beating Compton Eclaire (10-9) by a hd, 17 ran.
Tickateal 5-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway halfway, led approaching 3 out, headed last, no extra, 3rd of 17, 2l behind Magnificent Seven (11-8) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
Crackleando 16-1 (10-9) Held up, outpaced 6th, stayed on from 3 out, never dangerous, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Kempski (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Bafana Boy 11-4fav (10-8) Behind, headway 11th, ridden approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, faded, 5th of 17, 6l behind Magnificent Seven (11-8) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
The Rooken (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In touch, led 2nd to 4th, soon well behind, 14th of 15, well behind Pee Jay's Dream (10-12) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
