soon led, headed 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in touch, smooth headway when not clear run briefly over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well
held up, behind, pushed along 3f out, never dangerous
chased leader, driven halfway, soon lost place, in rear, tailed off
held up in touch, headway on outside well over 3f out, led well over 1f out, ridden, hung left, headed over 1f out, no chance with winner final furlong
slowly into stride, headway on outside over 3f out, ridden, one pace over 1f out
dwelt, soon chasing leaders, challenged 3f out, weakened 2f out
led early, chased leaders, led 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, outpaced in rear throughout, tailed off
slowly into stride, soon pushed along in mid-division, struggling over 3f out, tailed off
MCCONNELL goes well here, comes out clear best on the figures and arrives in form and should take this contest from Swiss Art and Golden Penny. Gary Moore's charge is officially rated 83 and not only does that look justified on the back of a close second to a course specialist here last time but it also gives the four-year-old outstanding claims at the weights and it is indeed harder to find negatives than it is to find positives about this one's chances. Further encouragement is drawn from the booking of George Baker and connections will surely be disappointed if their horse doesn't go very close in this company. Swiss Art is another who goes particularly well over this course and distance having gained all six of his successes at Southwell, so Ruth Carr's inmate must be given a chance in claiming company. A winner off this mark in a handicap back in July it would be no surprise whatsoever were this one to pose the biggest threat to our selection although a wide draw isn¿t ideal. Golden Penny is officially rated second best of these although today's weights give him work to do with both of those mentioned. That said, this son of Xaar has won here and steps down into claiming grade having been well held last time so must have some sort of chance against plenty of out of form horses. Dr Jameson and Brer Rabbit are two three-year-olds worthy of mention as their respective ratings provide hope, although neither has been in the best of form of late and this looks a good contest for the grade, whilst Ten Pole Tudor is unlikely to follow up her last time out course and distance success but does at least have a decent enough all-weather strike rate. Herbert Crescent had been in good form prior to disappointing last time and could take a hand in the finish but his best form has come elsewhere unlike our selection McConnell who rates one of the best bets on the card.
Golden Penny 25-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden halfway, lost place over 3f out, 8th of 9, 8l behind Salerosa (9-5) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
McConnell (USA) 9-2 (9-3) In touch, improved to chase leader over 2f out, ridden to lead entering final 2f, driven and headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Salerosa (8-6) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Nov.
Swiss Art (IRE) 5-1 (8-2) Slowly into stride when not much room soon after start, held up, always in rear, 8th of 9, 15l behind Clear Sailing (8-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks 0-70 (5) pol.
Martha's Girl (USA) 50-1 (9-1) Led, headed 8f out, ridden over 5f out, lost place 4f out, behind and eased over 1f out, 10th of 11, well behind Saute (9-4) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Transmission (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Led after 1f, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 17l behind Clear Sailing (8-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks 0-70 (5) pol.
Ten Pole Tudor 18-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, behind and soon pushed along, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, led inside final furlong, just held on, won at Southwell 1m sell stks (6) fbs beating Celtic Step (9-1) by hd, 8 ran.
Herbert Crescent 7-2 (9-0) Slowly away, held up behind, ridden over 2f out, one pace, 8th of 13, 5l behind Head First (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Dr Jameson (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Keen, tracked leader, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 5l behind Castle Myth (8-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Princess Zhukova (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Towards rear, pushed along halfway, never dangerous, 8th of 13, 10l behind All You Need (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f stks (7) pol in Feb.
Brer Rabbit 16-1 (8-8) Mid-division, effort to chase leaders 4f out, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 11, 13l behind Ten Pole Tudor (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f sell stks (6) pol in Nov.
