in touch, headway 5th, every chance 3 out, ridden and no impression from next
not fluent, held up, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders approaching next, soon one pace
chased leaders, effort when hit 3 out, soon ridden, disputing 4th and under pressure when mistake and unseated rider next
led, headed 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out
raced wide, with leader, led 5th, ridden and headed when not fluent last, no extra flat
chased leaders on outside, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
raced wide, behind, some headway approaching 3 out, never near leaders
held up on outside, headway 3 out, ridden next, led last, stayed on flat
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
chased leaders, pushed along after 4th, soon behind
mid-division, lost place after 5th, soon behind
An open finale and we will take a chance on Dargaville with the application of first time blinkers, while Tushna, Dubonai and Mr Tim are all points of interest. The selection is a tentative one based on his last couple of starts, but his run behind Phar Out Favourite earlier in the year suggests he has some ability at this level and he has acted with cut in the past, so in the hope that headgear will sharpen up his act we will chance him. Tushna will be popular after a fast ground Stratford win on his British debut. He comes here freshened up, but whether he can follow up on this ground and at a totally different type of track is far from certain. Top weight Dubonai has a better chance of handling the slower ground and has ability, but surely needs a drop in the weights to break his maiden tag over hurdles, while Mr Tim looks nothing special, despite connections, and may have to wait to go chasing before he realises any potential he may have. It's a tentative choice, but Dargaville is our suggestion here.
Mr Tim (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Held up and keen, headway 3rd, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 11, 16l behind Planters Punch (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Nov.
Tushna (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders and keen, led 3rd, ridden when hit 2 out, kept on, won at Stratford 2m ldy hcp hdl (F) gd in Oct beating Zeloso (9-11) by 7l, 9 ran.
Hugs Destiny (IRE) 50-1 (9-11) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on after next, never on terms, 7th of 13, 12l behind Saif Sareea (10-1) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gf in Nov.
Timbuktu 25-1 (11-6) Mid-division, lost place 6th, no danger after, 8th of 14, 42l behind Villago (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gs in Nov.
Templet (USA) 10-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway when mistake 2 out, soon ridden and kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 7l behind Good Investment (9-7) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gf in Oct.
Cheery Martyr 7-1 (10-12) Held up, driven and outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, well behind Best Profile (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy in Oct.
Bargain Hunt (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Towards rear, never dangerous, 9th of 13, well behind Rising Generation (11-9) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Oct.
Eborarry (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, effort next, ridden and weakened flat, 4th of 13, 6l behind Ivana Illyich (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Silver Seeker (USA) 14-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 8th of 14, 24l behind How Art Thou (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (F) gf in Nov.
Savannah River (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) In touch until weakened approaching 3 out, 12th of 15, well behind Hello Baby (10-5) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Apr.
First Grey 100-1 (10-9) Towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Piraeus (11-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gs in Nov, 20 ran.
Dubonai (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 5th, in touch when fell 4 out in race won by Celtic Legend (10-3) at Wetherby 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
George Stubbs (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Held up, slightly hampered 2nd, ridden after 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 23, 24l behind Whispered Promises (11-5) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Dargaville (NZ) 12-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 14, 34l behind Alph (11-1) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Nov.
Miss Pross 9-2 (10-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden when mistake last, no extra flat, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Honest Endeavour (10-11) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Nov.
