held up, headway after 7th, led 12th, kept on well from 2 out, ridden out
chased leader until lost place 7th, headway 10th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace
led 2nd until 6th, weakened after 10th, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out
held up, headway 10th, weakened approaching 4 out
never fluent, jumped right throughout, held up, headway after 9th, weakened 4 out
chased leaders, blundered 11th, ridden after 4 out, one pace from next
held up, headway after 11th, travelling well when mistake 3 out (water), soon ridden, no further impression
led until 2nd, led 6th, hit 8th, headed 12th, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
With little in the way of recent from to go on here it's FRUITFULL CITIZEN who gets the nod and he may just edge it ahead of Alroyal and Earth Moving. The Simon Jones-trained mare has been off since May of last year but has run best fresh in the past so that should be of no concern. The nine-year-old made the frame in two of her three races last year all on quick ground so this race looks set to suit her. Alroyal has been off the track since July of so the gelding may need the run today but is another who has run well on a return to action in the past. Earth Moving has the better form of the remainder but does not seem to pose too much of a danger to the selection. So in a race where the market may well reveal most of the clues we side with Fruitfull Citizen.
Alroyal (GER) 9-4fav (12-0) A.p; led app last; sn clr, won at Ideford Arch 3m ptp gd in Feb beating Quizzling (12-0) by 11l, 7 ran.
Dutch Bill 66-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, jumped left 5th, not fluent and headed after 10th, led again 11th, headed 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 9, 28l behind Mr Ed (11-7) at Exeter 3m hts chs (6) gd.
Earth Moving (IRE) 80-1 (11-5) Chased leader, led 5th until 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Limerick Boy (11-13) at Newbury 2m 6f hts chs (6) gd in Feb.
Lourd Hymn 12-1 (12-0) Held up; hdwy 14; stayed on flat, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Celtic Society (12-0) at Wadebridge 3m ptp gd.
Pimbury (IRE) 9-4 (12-0) Held up; went 2nd 10; wknd 2 out, 2nd of 6, 20l behind Jean's Joy (11-7) at Buckfastleigh 3m ptp sft.
Ryeman 7-2 (12-0) (ts) led til hdd aft 14; wknd qckly app 2 out, 4th of 7, 19l behind Celtic Society (12-0) at Wadebridge 3m ptp gd.
Touch Of Flame 16-1 (12-0) Cl up to 15, 6th of 9, 45l behind Distant Thunder (12-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp gd.
Fruitfull Citizen (IRE) 8-13fav (10-7) Made virt all; rdly, won at Umberleigh 3m ptp frm in Jun beating Gudlage (11-0) by 15l, 9 ran.
Nobody Tells Me (FR) 2-1 (11-0) Led 12; drvn out, won at Wadebridge 3m ptp gd beating Bob Bites Back (11-0) by 11l, 6 ran.
