held up in 4th, weakened quickly before 2 out,
held up in 6th, headway into 3rd going well after 3 out, weakened between last two
held up off the pace towards rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders before 2 out, ridden between last two, weakened before the last
held up in rear, good headway out wide chasing leaders and awkward 2 out, went 2nd at the last, stayed on run-in, always held
chased leaders on inside, awkward 4th, pushed along after 2 out, weakened last
led until 2 out, soon ridden chasing winner until the last, stayed on same pace in 3rd run-in
chased leader, led 2 out, driven out
pulled hard in last pair, weakened quickly before 2 out, tailed off
Natural History has slipped down the ratings and is interesting in a race like this off bottom weight. Mack The Man, placed in a Grade 3 here last March, made a winning reappearance at Exeter but Navajo Pass is still paying the price for defeating Buveur D’Air at Haydock around this time last year. Volkovka has gone up 5lb for finishing second over 2m4f here last month and HERMES BOY makes more appeal with his form in maiden and novice events at the end of last year working out well.
Navajo Pass 12-1 (11-12) Slight lead and hit 1st, headed before 3rd, chased leader until 4 out, chased leaders, mistake 2nd, weakened quickly before 2 out, soon behind and eased, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Samarrive (10-7) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Volkovka (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Held up off the pace towards rear, steady headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd between last two, every chance last, found no extra final 110 yards, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Shirocco's Dream (10-9) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Mack The Man (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, led flat, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Tulin (11-10) by nk, 7 ran.
Zambezi Fix (FR) 9-2 (10-6) Towards rear, not fluent 2nd, chased leaders 11th, hit 4 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened from before last, 5th of 9, 17 1/2l behind Golden Whisky (10-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Hermes Boy (FR) 85-40 (10-12) Prominent, led before 2nd, in command from 3 out, stayed on well, pushed out, won at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gs in Dec beating American Gerry (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 18 ran.
McGowan's Pass 16-1 (11-10) Prominent, close up from 3 out until 2 out, no extra last, 7th of 11, 22 1/2l behind Celebre D'Allen (11-5) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Hydroplane (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Towards rear, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, pulled up approaching last, at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Natural History 9-1 (10-1) Raced keenly in last pair, never involved, 6th of 9, 17 3/4l behind Tommy's Oscar (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
