in rear, plugged on from over 2f out, no impression
mid-division, chased leaders over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, reminders 4f out, chased winner over 1f out, no impression
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace
with leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
in rear, headway over 5f out, one pace and no impression
always towards rear
held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 3f out
towards rear, ridden over 5f out, weakened 4f out, soon eased
held up mid-division, headway before 4f out, led over 2f out, soon clear and ran on strongly
led, headed well over 3f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out
tracked leaders, weakened over 4f out
Point-to-point winner Indian Castle is treading a well-worn path as Donald McCain has introduced several similar types in bumpers this season. He has a good strike rate and the five-year-old will be near the head of the market here. But several of these have already shown promise under Rules including Never Says Never, Sir Gale, Splash Of Ginge and Rock Of Ages. The filly Mistral Reine was second over 1m6f here before finishing fifth at Wetherby while there will be plenty of interest in David Pipe's nicely-bred newcomer Red Sherlock. But we'll take the Midnight Legend gelding KENTFORD LEGEND to build on a promising start at Wincanton with this stiffer track in his favour.
Chase The Spud 10-1 (11-7) Ref 2, in a race won by I Believe (11-7) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m ptp hvy in Dec, 15 ran.
Fergal Mael Duin 66-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway over 9f out, led 6f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Regal Encore (10-3) at Southwell 2m n h flat (6) std in Feb.
Indian Castle (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Mid div, 8th 6out, fair 7th 7 prog aftr 4out, closer in 4th aftr 3out, chall 2out, ld aftr 2out, so, won at Ballindenisk 3m ire ptp hvy in Dec beating Nearly Nama'd (11-7) by 8l, 11 ran.
Kentford Legend 12-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway under pressure over 4f out, kept on same pace final 2f, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Quick Decisson (11-2) at Wincanton 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Manballandall (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Tr ldrs, 5th 1/2way, 3rd app str, ko sme pce run-in, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Ceasar Milan (10-11) at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m ire ptp hvy in Oct.
Never Says Never 33-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, steady headway on outside 7f out, chased leaders 6f out, went close 3rd 2f out, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, stayed on again inside final furlong, almost snatched 3rd, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Sgt Reckless (11-12) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (6) std.
Played Away 28-1 (10-7) Mid-division, lost place over 4f out, tailed off over 2f out, 9th of 10, 34l behind Alphabetical Order (10-9) at Lingfield 2m mdn n h flat (6) std in Dec.
Sir Gale 25-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, kept on final 2f, went 3rd in closing stages, 3rd of 10, 26l behind Kings Palace (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 2f nhf (6) sft in Dec.
Splash of Ginge 14-1 (10-7) Held up in touch in rear, outpaced 6f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never on terms, 4th of 7, 12l behind Seebright (11-4) at Chepstow 2m N H flat (6) hvy.
Trumix Fair Mix gelding out of Indeed To Goodness.
Red Sherlock Shirocco gelding out of Lady Cricket.
Rock of Ages 5-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 6th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Lurcher (10-12) at Lingfield 1m 5f 4yo n h flat (6) std.
Whispering Harry Sir Harry Lewis gelding out of Welsh Whisper.
Mistral Reine 6-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, weakened over 3f out, 5th of 11, 11l behind Ifits A Fiddle (10-10) at Wetherby 1m 5f fll 4yo N H flat (6) sft.
