led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
towards rear, effort over 2f out, never dangerous
chased leaders, headway and raced stand side 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
in touch and keen, weakened 2f out
with leader, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, ridden out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
in touch, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
slowly away, behind, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace
behind, ridden over 3f out, no impression
slowly away, always towards rear
Nonrunner
Hula Ballew looks a fairly solid option in a tricky handicap in which Surwaki, Aggravation and Ancient Cross are amongst others of interest. The selection is 10lbs higher than when winning this race in 2006 but won from a higher mark than today's last summer and comes here on the back of a promising reappearance at Thirsk. She finished behind Surwaki that day but we fancy her to reverse the form back at one of her favourite tracks. Surwaki has to enter calculations on that run and is also well treated on the pick of his old form but he doesn't win very often and is opposed on that basis. Aggravation is a rare runner here for David Elsworth and merits respect accordingly but he may just need to get a run or two under his belt before he's firing on all cylinders. The market should guide to his chances and to those of handicap debutant Ancient Cross, Mountain Cat who was progressing well when last in action and the ex-French Ornella. Plenty to consider then but Hula Ballew looks sure to be there or thereabouts.
Rain Stops Play (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 8l behind Mia's Boy (9-4) at Yarmouth 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Aggravation 5-2fav (9-1) Held up towards rear, switched right, headway over 1f out, edged left under pressure inside final furlong, never nearer, 3rd of 8, nk behind Meditation (8-10) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Hula Ballew 12-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division, pushed along and headway over 2f out, driven and kept on final furlong, 3rd of 18, 7l behind Blue Spinnaker (9-6) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Mountain Cat (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Close up, ridden over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 7th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Drawn Gold (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 3yo app hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Surwaki (USA) 14-1 (9-2) Led, headed after 1f and remained in touch, ridden to regain lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 2nd of 18, 6l behind Blue Spinnaker (9-6) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Dispol Isle (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Chased winner, ridden well over 1f out, kept on until no extra final 75 yards, 8th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Nuit Sombre (9-3) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Nov.
Sands of Barra (IRE) 14-1 (8-5) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 15, 3l behind Spinning (8-11) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Tizzy May (FR) 10-1 (8-5) Close up and keen, weakened well over 1f out, 8th of 12, 23l behind Force Group (9-0) at Pontefract 1m 2f app hcp (5) gs.
Out Of Nothing 66-1 (9-1) Always in rear, last of 13, 31l behind Penny Island (8-10) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) sft.
Holiday Cocktail 25-1 (8-8) Slowly away, always behind, 14th of 15, 17l behind Street Life (8-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) sft.
Gala Sunday (USA) 40-1 (8-10) Always rear-division, 10th of 12, 18l behind Harry The Hawk (9-0) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
General Feeling (IRE) 17-2 (8-9) Mid-division, headway 3f out, hung right well over 1f out, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 6l behind Casablanca Minx (8-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar.
Ancient Cross 20-1 (9-5) Led, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out and weakened, 5th of 9, 8l behind Hollander (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn stk (5) pol.
Sedgwick 12-1 (9-1) Stumbled start and lost ground, ridden and headway 1f out, stayed on, 7th of 12, 5l behind Xpres Maite (8-13) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Willow Dancer (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Led, ridden 3f out, headed 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 10l behind Penny Island (8-10) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) sft.
Mujma 50-1 (9-2) Towards rear, never dangerous, last of 18, well behind Blue Spinnaker (9-6) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
