chased leaders, lost place before 6th, mistake 11th, 8th and well held 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 4th, no impression
prominent, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
chased leaders, went 2nd after 2 out, stayed on flat, closed on winner but unable to challenge
slow 1st, always behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, 9th when mistake 3 out, soon well beaten
tracked winner, lost 2nd after 2 out, stayed on one pace in 3rd flat
towards rear, mistake 1st, hampered next, pushed along 8th, well behind 11th, pulled up after
towards rearm, behind 8th, tailed off 11th, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway 13th, ridden 4 out, 6th 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, 4th and weakening 2 out
chased leaders, slow 12th, soon ridden and lost place, 7th when not fluent 3 out, weakened
made all, clear 3 out, reduced lead flat, held on bravely
held up in rear, headway 13th, weakened before 2 out
Walk In The Mill ran riot at Wincanton three weeks ago and is improving fast. At the other end of the handicap, Shantou Flyer won in this grade over track and trip on New Year’s Day, though Tenor Nivernais and Thomas Crapper should get closer on today’s revised terms. Foxtail Hill has more on his plate than when scoring at Kempton while Ascot winner Regal Encore never seems to run two races alike but Aso idled once hitting the front at Chepstow and is probably better than the bare form suggests. Saphir Du Rheu was an early casualty in the Hennessy in November and is unlikely to ever hit the heights expected over fences. ANNACOTTY has won this for the last two years and will be decent odds to complete the hat-trick. Alan King’s gelding was always holding Tenor Nivernais last year and can confirm running on 2lb worse terms - this will have been his target since the start of the season.
Shantou Flyer (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, hampered 12th, hampered 4 out, led before 2 out, edged left flat, stayed on well, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan beating Village Vic (11-11) by 3l, 11 ran.
Annacotty (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Mistake 1st, chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 13th, weakened before 4 out, 8th of 14, dist behind Regal Encore (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Towards rear of mid-division when fell 4th, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Ballynagour (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, badly hampered 5 out, soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
Aso (FR) 6-5fav (11-8) Held up, in rear, headway 7th, 2nd before 5 out, led approaching last, clear when idled flat, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Drumlee Sunset (10-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leader until 13th, outpaced and no impression from 3 out, went 4th flat, 4th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Shantou Flyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Regal Encore (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Raced wide and well off the pace towards rear, pushed along before 14th, 7th and plenty to do before 2 out, stayed on after 2 out, driven in 4th between last two, stayed on strongly run-in to lead final 100 yards, won at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec beating Minella Daddy (10-13) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
Buywise (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Always behind, 7th of 11, 34 1/2l behind Mr Mix (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Fox Appeal (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-12) Close up when field came into view 6th, led narrowly when came into view again briefly 4 out, headed and no chance with winner before next, fell, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
On Tour (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up, in rear, headway on outside 5 out, 3rd 4 out, no extra before 2 out, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Aso (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Walk In The Mill (FR) 9-2 (10-8) Close up when field came into view 6th, led and clear when came back into view 3 out, unchallenged after (no time taken, poor visibility), won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Orbasa (11-2) by 22l, 8 ran.
Foxtail Hill (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Jumped badly left throughout, tracked leader, led 2nd, made rest, ridden clear before the last, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Rothman (10-7) by 8l, 7 ran.
Thomas Crapper 14-1 (10-0) Held up, in rear, headway 8th, not fluent when 2nd 13th, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, 4th and no extra last, 5th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Shantou Flyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
