hampered and fell 1st
in touch, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, hung right and no impression approaching last
held up, steady headway after 3 out, ridden to go 2nd last, kept on flat
tracked leaders, lost pace after 3 out, weakened next
led, jumped led, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
raced keenly, held up towards rear, kept on from 2 out, nearest finish
mid-division, driven and lost place after 5th, behind when fell next
in touch, led after 3 out, headed and hung left before next, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway 5th, lost place after 3 out, weakened next
jumped left 1st, tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, led before 2 out, ridden and kept on flat
tracked leader on outside, lost place 5th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
We're happy to go with the standard setting THE PANAMA KID here, but he can expect to be challenged by Prince of Gdansk and Strokestown. The selection should handle the ground, despite being top weight, as he did when runner up in soft ground at Doncaster last time out last month. He was staying on well, and looked like he could handle a tougher test. Prior to that he'd won back to back races on a faster surface, including here over this trip. If he maintains the improvement he's been showing so far, he could be back in the winners' enclosure. Prince of Gdansk has shown up well in bumpers and makes his hurdling debut, again he's shown he can handle some cut in the ground. Alan Swinbank doesn't have far to come, and does well here. Strokestown is another hurdling for the first time but has proven ability as a winning point to pointer in Ireland, and some decent form here too in bumpers, again in testing conditions. Sue Smith's Magellan Straits is another going over fences for the first time. He comes from a family of useful chasers, but the ground may be against him. So we return to our selection, which is The Panama Kid.
The Panama Kid (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Chased winner, ridden approaching 2 out, lost 2nd approaching last until stayed on and regained 2nd near finish, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Benfleet Boy (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
All Out For Seven (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up, shaken up before 3 out, soon beaten and eased, 10th of 11, well behind Mr Woods (10-5) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Catch Bob (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway and in touch 3 out, mistake and fell 2 out in race won by Diamond Frontier (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov, 16 ran.
Galaxy Spirit (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, mistakes 5th and 6th, soon weakened, not fluent 7th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Star Lord (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Gin Mill (IRE) 200-1 (10-5) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 16, well behind Diamond Frontier (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Magellan Straits 7-1 (11-1) Led over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 17, 10l behind Ellen Tilley (10-6) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (5) gs in Dec.
Mister Marker (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 9th of 13, 41l behind What A Buzz (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Prince of Gdansk (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden over 3f out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Meridian City (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) gd in Dec.
Quick Man (FR) Agent Bleu gelding out of Honfleur.
Red Dynamite 9-2 (11-6) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden after next, kept on flat, never near, 5th of 14, 22l behind Calcutta Cup (11-6) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Strokestown 4-1 (11-9) Led, ridden approaching 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Moorlands Teri (10-2) at Bangor 2m 1f nhf (5) sft in Dec.
Work Boy 12-1 (10-8) In touch, hit 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 7, well behind Adroit Approach (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
