held up, headway approaching 3f out, soon ridden, 5th and weakening when fell 2f out
held up, headway 5th, chased winner 2f out, soon ridden, one pace flat
made all, ridden approaching last, ran on
keen, chased leaders to 3f out, behind when hampered 2f out
chased winner, bumped 4th, soon ridden, weakened 2f out
held up in rear, headway 3f out, soon ridden, 3rd when beaten and no fluent last
Mister Mustard was in great form towards the end of last season, wining three times and achieving a rating of around 120. That makes him a major player although he has a 153-day absence to overcome if he is to win. This swings us to Anticipating. A 77-rated winner on the Flat, Anticipating won on his hurdling debut, beating Turbo by a short head. He battled well there and has to be respected here. Smart Boy Prince comes here fit and well, although he'll have to find another few pounds based on the bare bones of his form to date in order to score, and Carte Sauvage has 13 lengths to find on Anticipating based on Plumpton form. Finally, Night Sight also needs to improve substantially on the form of his Market Rasen win to play a leading part. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Anticipating.
Mister Mustard (IRE) 11-10fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway and in touch 3 out, 5th and driven when fell 5 out in race won by Ponderon (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (D) gd in May, 10 ran.
Anticipating 7-2fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, smooth headway 3 out, mistake when chasing clear leader 2 out, ran on to lead post, won at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (E) gf in Sept beating Turbo (10-12) by a shd, 14 ran.
Smart Boy Prince (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led 4th, ridden 2 out, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Sunnyland (10-11) at Worcester 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Sept.
Brandeston Ron (IRE) 50-1 (11-11) Started slowly, always behind, mistake 4th, adrift when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Willy Willy (11-11) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (H) gf in Apr, 16 ran.
Carte Sauvage (USA) 15-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, ridden from 5th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 14, 13l behind Anticipating (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (E) gf in Sept.
Night Sight (USA) 11-2 (11-3) Held up, headway 4th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on and edged left from last, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Uncle John (9-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd in Sept.
