in touch, weakened after 5th, pulled up after 6th
chased leader, ridden and weakened 8th, pulled up after 2 out
made all, ridden after 4 out, jumped left last, kept on
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden and mistake 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 7th, mistake 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, mistake 3rd, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
pulled early and held up last, blundered 3rd, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up after 2 out
prominent, chased winner 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, ran on, not reached winner
prominent, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
Prophete De Guye won well last time but his profile suggests that a repeat win is perhaps not guaranteed and instead we will plump for SHAKE THE BARLEY ahead of Southern Exit. Two of the last three winners of this race have carried top-weight (the other carried 11.11), and so a welter burden is not a big concern for backers today, especially as the selection won with a big weight earlier in the season at Lingfield. Things haven't quite gone to plan since then but he put up a better show last time when dropped in trip and only found an enterprisingly ridden winner too good. The stable are on the crest of a wave after their Racingpost Chase win and their good form can continue today. Miss Midnight is consistent enough but her win to runs ratio is poor and she may be more of a place-pot prospect, so a bigger threat may be recent winner Prophete De Guye. Felix De Giles got a fine tune from him last time at Southwell and he rattled home well to win it; this looks a little tougher but he does escape a penalty for that win. Southern Exit is winless in nine but she makes her chasing debut today and it is interesting that the yard pitch her straight into handicap company. Not a strong race by any means, but perhaps a good opportunity for Shake The Barley to return to winning ways.
Southern Exit 9-2 (11-10) Took keen hold, hit 1st, settled in touch, chased leading pair under pressure 6th, weakened from next, 11th of 14, 21l behind Rosoff (10-9) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Country Affair (USA) 50-1 (11-0) Always rear, lost touch 7th, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Gauvain (11-0) at Lingfield 2m beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Shake The Barley (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 3 out, close up 2 out, no impression from last, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Pret A Thou (11-0) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs (4) sft.
Miss Midnight 12-1 (10-10) In touch, led briefly approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Marsh Court (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, mistake 7th, headway from 3 out, stayed on to lead post, won at Southwell 2m cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs beating Laharna (10-13) by a hd, 10 ran.
Flashy Conquest 25-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Quillygham (11-5) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft, 16 ran.
Strategic Plan (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up * out in race won by Kinkeel (10-2) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs (5) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Jack's Lad (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Towards rear, headway 5 out, no further impression from next, 4th of 14, 21l behind Conny Nobel (10-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Roseville (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Led 2nd to 9th, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Kinkeel (10-2) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs (5) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
