raced widest of all, tracked leading trio, went 2nd 4 out, led narrowly 2 out, strongly pressed when blundered last, driven and stayed on to asssert final 100 yards
led, headed 4 out, soon lost 2nd but stayed challenging under pressure, not much room on inside bend well before 2 out, ridden to chase winner between last 2, upsides last, every chance until no extra and held final 100 yards
tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and not fluent when narrowly headed 2 out, chased winner until between last 2, soon no extra in 3rd
took keen hold, held up in last pair, last and struggling after 5th, never on terms after, left modest 5th 2 out
held up in rear, steady headway to chase leading quartett after 5th, ridden and one pace when left modest 4th 2 out, no impression when edged right flat
held up in 5th, reminders and struggling after 5th, tailed off
HAZY TOM readily swept aside Sea Of Thunder at Wetherby last month and is still unbeaten under Rules. The runner-up would have won easily over 3m at Cheltenham last week had he not tipped over at the final flight so the form looks very solid and Charlie Longsdon's five-year-old can make the most of the 3lb he receives from Molotof. The latter has begun to make up for last season's disappointments but has an extra penalty for winning a Listed event at Haydock last time and the second in that race has been well beaten since. Nicky Henderson also runs Heather Royal but the mare needs to step up considerably on her form to date to figure here while this is easily Peckhamecho's toughest task so far, though the gelding is clearly on an upward curve. Bin End caused a surprise at Leicester but the runner-up there is quite well-regarded and he could be open to further improvement.
Molotof (FR) 8-15fav (11-8) Made all, not fluent 3 out, ridden and hard pressed last, driven out, in command towards finish, won at Haydock 2m Listed nov hdl (1) gs in Nov beating Our Joe Mac (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Peckhamecho (IRE) 8-13fav (10-13) Made all, left well clear 3 out, unchallenged, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (3) gs in Nov beating Saves Time (10-12) by 49l, 8 ran.
Hazy Tom (IRE) 6-4fav (11-5) Made all, clear before 3 out, easily, won at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Sea Of Thunder (11-5) by 12l, 15 ran.
Bin End 25-1 (10-7) In touch, led 3 out, ridden and ran on, won at Leicester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov beating Castletown Bridge (11-0) by 5l, 10 ran.
Nazreef 12-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, mistake 4th, soon lost place, rallied 3 out, weakened before last, 7th of 15, well behind Minsky Mine (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gs.
Heather Royal 5-6fav (11-3) In touch, headway on inside and tracking leaders when mistake and unseated rider 5th, in a race won by Elegant Touch (10-10) at Lingfield 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
The Strawberry One 25-1 (10-11) Held up in last, outpaced 6th, behind next, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Fingal Bay (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gs.
Banyan Tree (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, led before 3 out, pressed from 2 out, kept on well towards finish, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (5) gd beating Numen (10-9) by 2l, 15 ran.
