led, headed after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on flat
chased leaders, lost place after 3rd, struggling next, soon behind
mid-division on outside, ridden and outpaced 3 out, soon behind, beaten when blundered last
tracked leader, lost place approaching 3 out, weakened before next
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and outpaced next, 5th and beaten when fell heavily last
mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and effort to chase leading pair before next, kept on, lost 3rd flat
held up behind, fell 3rd
mistake 2nd, always towards rear
held up, headway after 3 out, 4th and outpaced when mistake next, ridden and kept on under pressure to go 3rd flat, no impression
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon ridden, led after next, stayed on well flat
behind, ridden 3 out, never dangerous
A poor opener where many of them want faster ground than this to be at their best and we will take a chance on a return to form for GOLDEN SQUARE, while Rampant Ronnie and Kyoto will probably be involved. The Tony Carroll-trained selection won a fast ground Worcester handicap hurdle in the summer from a mark just 1lb lower than today's. Admittedly, recent efforts leave a bit to be desired, but he has a win here on the flat to his name and a couple of placed efforts to boot, so clearly enjoys his trips here, while distance and going should not be a problem for him, and this might be a good chance to get back to winning ways. Rampant Ronnie won a Ludlow seller last time out and races from the same mark now back in a handicap. This trip is his optimum, although all his wins have been on genuine fast ground and there is a nagging doubt about his ability to win on good. Nigel Hawke's Kyoto won't mind conditions and was running well in defeat until being put up to this mark for his last run at Wincanton, which proved beyond him. He wouldn't need to improve much to have a major say here and is not ruled out. Mean Machine has been dismal since a sole success at Galway a couple of years ago, Ready To Crown should be capable of getting involved from this mark, although recent runs are not encouraging, while Prince Of Gdansk takes a marked drop in trip and will go on the ground, so is very much one to note in the market. Golden Square is a tentative suggestion.
Rampant Ronnie (USA) 6-1 (11-4) Made all, not fluent 5th, jumped left 2 out and last, hung left flat, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) gf in Oct beating Genari (10-11) by 1 3/4l, 16 ran.
Prince of Gdansk (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up, driven and behind from 3 out, 6th of 8, well behind Tribe (10-13) at Wetherby 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Solitary Palm (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Chased clear leader until 5th, not fluent next, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 8, 19l behind A Bit Of Fun (11-6) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Tora Petcha (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until ridden before next, soon weakened, last of 8, 50l behind Rockiteer (10-9) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Kyoto (GER) 11-4 (10-1) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 15l behind Simply Blue (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Ready To Crown (USA) 13-2 (10-13) Mid-division, headway after 6th, hampered last, one pace, 4th of 9, 7l behind Three Ships (10-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Mean Machine (IRE) 66-1 (9-9) Mistake 2nd, keen hold in mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon struggling, 12th of 15, 17l behind Ingratitude (11-9) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Dec.
Lord Crewe (IRE) 9-4 (10-7) In touch, ridden after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 12, 24l behind Sharp Dresser (10-1) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Apr '08.
General Smith 22-1 (10-13) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, no impression, 7th of 15, 16l behind Vincenzio (11-12) at Towcester 2m 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Golden Square 8-1 (9-10) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, edged left after 3 out, weakened after last, 6th of 9, 11l behind Three Ships (10-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Frosty's Gift 66-1 (10-7) In touch, not fluent 4th, weakened approaching next, 9th of 14, 32l behind Lucky Dancer (10-13) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Aug.
