chased leaders, weakened 4 out
held up in touch, led on bit 2 out, clear when hit next, easily
mid-division, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
prominent, took closer order 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
led, headed approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next, pulled up before 3 out
with leader, led 3 out, hit and headed next, one pace
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, no impression
prominent, led approaching 4 out, headed 3 out, soon weakened
always behind, pulled up after 4 out
always behind, tailed off from 4 out
This is a competitive race to open the card and the vote is given to Cooldine Lad with Mac Dargin and Tandava rated as the main dangers. The selection hails from the Howard Johnson yard and he will not have to be anything special to make a winning racecourse debut here. The market will provide the clues but he is bred to have plenty of stamina and we take him to lead them home. Tandava is a little high in the weights at present, although he did put up a cracking effort last time when finishing second behind King Of Confusion at Kelso. However, he had previously been disappointing at Perth and off his current mark he looks worth taking on today. Mac Dargin is another from a yard that has to be respected and he made eyecatching late headway last time when a good second behind Air Guitar. The step-up in trip should suit but he has given the impression that he may be better on a slightly faster surface. Nine De Sivola looks the best of the remainder as he ran well here when beating Laertes, but he was pulled-up over a longer trip at Sedgefield last time. He is of interest, but for the winner we will side with the newcomer Cooldine Lad.
Tandava (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led after next, headed flat, soon outpaced, 2nd of 14, 22l behind King of Confusion (10-6) at Kelso 2m 6f cnd nov hdl (E) gs in Oct.
Nine De Sivola (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Behind, hit 8th, lost touch 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Jethro Tull (9-12) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Abbotsford (IRE) Arzanni gelding out of mare related to several winning jumpers.
Ballyowen (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Keen, led 3rd to after 5th, weakened after 6th, tailed off, 13th of 18, well behind Ask The Gatherer (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gd in Nov.
Cooldine Lad (IRE) 7-4fav won at Clonmel 3m ire ptp gd in Oct '04 beating Original Thought by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Crashtown Leader (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) With leader from 2nd, led approaching 6th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 16, 40l behind Day Of Claies (11-1) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (D) gs in Oct.
Elvis Returns 25-1 (10-9) Prominent 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace from last, no impression, 4th of 16, 10l behind Mr Pointment (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Laertes 7-1 (10-13) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden after next, stayed on to chase winner after 2 out, no impression flat, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Nine De Sivola (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f mdn hdl (E) sft in Nov.
Mac Dargin (IRE) 17-2 (10-6) Headway 5th, outpaced 7th, rallied 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 10l behind Air Guitar (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) gd in Nov.
Pride of Finewood (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) In rear, headway over 3f out, stayed on final 2f, never dangerous, 10th of 18, 21l behind Reel Missile (10-8) at Doncaster 2m nhf (H) gd in Mar '04.
Tiger King (GER) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, well behind Planters Punch (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Nov.
