mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, no impression
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 4 out, soon beaten
mid-division, lost place when not fluent 3rd, no danger after
behind, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous
raced keenly in touch, led 3rd, headed 4 out, weakened approaching next
in touch, ridden 2 out, no impression approaching last
led to 3rd, chased leader, effort 3 out, kept on same pace from next
chased leaders, lost place 4th, soon behind
raced keenly, held up, headway 5th, led going well after 3 out, driven, drew clear from last, comfortably
held up behind, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway 3 out, one pace from next
prominent, led 4 out, headed after next, soon ridden, no extra
mid-division, outpaced when hit 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, went 2nd next, kept on, no impression approaching last
raced keenly in mid-division, headway, in touch 4th, effort 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, ridden, weakened next
Percussionist ran an encouraging race back over hurdles at Ayr last month and has to be respected on that evidence but the ground is likely to be too quick for him today and a safer option looks to be Border Tale, who gets the vote ahead of Hernando Royal. The last mentioned has improved with each start over timber and he looks to be reasonably well treated for his debut in a handicap. Star Beat ran better than expected behind Mous Of Men at Doncaster last month and has to be respected racing off the same mark again today, while Idarah could probably do with some help from the handicapper. Pilca and Royal Flynn have place claims but the selection is Border Tale, who made a highly satisfactory return at Musselburgh earlier this month and he is taken to resume winning ways here.
Double Vodka (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 7, 14l behind Astarador (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs.
Idarah (USA) 12-1 (10-12) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, one pace, 6th of 13, 26l behind Five Dream (10-6) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) sft in Jan.
Percussionist (IRE) 10-3 (10-13) Held up, outpaced 6th, chased winner 3 out, blundered next, tailed off, 2nd of 6, well behind Wild Cane Ridge (11-12) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Nelson du Ronceray (FR) 8-1 (10-2) In touch, chased winner from 5th until hit 4 out, tailed off next, 4th of 6, well behind Wild Cane Ridge (11-12) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Monsieur (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Led, keen, soon clear, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 29l behind Overserved (11-1) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Hernando Royal 11-1 (10-10) Keen, tracking leaders, hit 3rd, outpaced 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 5l behind Pierrot Lunaire (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft.
Border Tale 14-1 (9-11) Tracked winner, ridden approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Astarador (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs.
John Forbes 12-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, blundered and outpaced 4 out, tailed off next, 5th of 6, well behind Wild Cane Ridge (11-12) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Pilca (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from next, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Halla San (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Royal Flynn 7-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 5th, kept on from 3 out, no impression, 6th of 18, 7l behind Albinus (10-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Star Beat 50-1 (10-0) In rear, steady headway from 3 out, stayed on well between last 2, not reached leaders, 5th of 20, 5l behind Mous Of Men (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jan.
Deedeetee (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Led, headed 3 out, every chance, weakened from last, 5th of 10, 12l behind Lambrini Legend (11-0) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Rossin Gold (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, lost place 7th, behind and pulled up 3 out in race won by Tartan Snow (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
Soubriquet (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Mid-division, close up approaching 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, 4th of 9, 8l behind Halla San (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Tranos (USA) 25-1 (10-12) Held up, effort after 4 out, never dangerous, 7th of 14, 16l behind Along The Nile (10-7) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
High Stand Lad 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 6th, hampered 4 out, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 18, 1l behind Pelo Du Bief (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
