chased leaders, hard driven over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge over 3f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up in rear but in touch, headway over 2f out, led entering final furlong, driven out
chased leader early, soon steadied towards rear, under pressure over 6f out, beaten over 4f out, tailed off
led until over 8f out, remained prominent, driven to challenge over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
RHOMBUS had decent claims at Wolverhampton yesterday and may well make a quick reappearance. He's clear on official ratings and much better than these as a strike-rate of 6-21 emphasises and class should see him through. Vercingetorix has run poorly over fences since beating three rivals in a Chepstow handicap in August while Esteaming, whose final run last season came when third in the November Handicap, wasn't sighted in his two runs in the autumn. Tatting has a brilliant record on the all-weather circuit, particularly around here, though at a lowly level and though Brigadoon scored at Catterick in August his record on this track leaves plenty to be desired.
Rhombus (IRE) 11-4 (10-0) Steadied start, held up disputing close 4th, ridden 2f out, no impression, plugged on into well held 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 5, 5 1/2l behind Gale Force (8-13) at Goodwood 2m hcp (2) sft in Sep.
Vercingetorix (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Towards rear, hampered 1st, never dangerous, pulled up halfway, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Tatting 11-4 (8-11) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Chilworth Bells (9-13) at Catterick 1m 4f stks (6) gs in May.
Brigadoon 5-2fav (10-12) Took keen hold, prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace before last, lost 3rd and no extra flat, 4th of 8, 13 1/4l behind Claude Carter (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) gd in Aug.
Striking Nigella 150-1 (8-9) Dwelt, always towards rear, 11th of 15, 29 1/2l behind Scruffy Mcguffy (9-1) at Thirsk 1m hcp (6) sft in Aug.
Cold Fusion (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 1f, pushed along to lead entering final 3f until over 2f out, chased leaders, weakened 2f out, 9th of 12, 36 1/4l behind Medicine Hat (9-13) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Esteaming 20-1 (9-10) Mid-division on inside, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 13, 21 1/2l behind Al Destoor (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Hard To Handel 7-1 (9-7) Keen tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 6 3/4l behind Mythical Madness (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Nov.
