chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, not fluent 3rd, every chance 3 out, 3rd and held from last, kept on
mid-division, ridden and weakened before 3 out
held up, in mid-division 3rd, closed after 7th, 4th 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, switched right after 2 out, led before last, stayed on, won going away
held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, soon pushed along, weakened after next, pulled up before 2 out
always well behind, pulled up before 2 out
led, not fluent 2nd or 5th, edged left before 6th, headed before last, no impression final 75 yards
NonRunner
Moon King could only manage a one-paced third behind Starsky over track and trip last month and this looks a stronger heat. Big Bad Bear has yet to convince over this far but THE COB (NAP) won a Grade 2 novice event over the course and distance at the start of the year and there was plenty of encouragement in his reappearance at Sandown. He can defy top weight even though Skatman can improve for the step up to 3m. Wbee hasn’t raced since completing a four-time in August and was beaten fair and square by Small Present at Catterick back in February when 15lb better off.
The Cob (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Chased leader until before 5th, went 2nd again next, 1 length down when hit 2 out, lost 2nd between last two, plugged on and went 2nd again towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Pileon (10-8) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Small Present (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Mid-division, pushed along home turn, kept on one pace, 6th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Flight Deck (11-2) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Big Bad Bear (IRE) 22-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Wakool (10-4) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Skatman (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, hit 5th, pushed along before 2 out, ridden approaching last, made no impression, 6th of 20, 12 3/4l behind Art Approval (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Sultans Pride 14-1 (11-2) Soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 7th, at Haydock 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Starsky (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Towards rear in touch, pushed along in 5th before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, pressed leaders 2 out, led going easily before last, ridden and good jump final flight, idled badly on run-in but always doing enough, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Paricolor (12-0) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Sammylou (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up at rear, ridden and outpaced at 2 out, made no impression, last of 8, dist behind White Walker (10-1) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Moon King (FR) 15-8 (11-12) Prominent, led before 3 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, beaten before last, stayed on again towards finish to take 3rd, 3rd of 7, 6 1/4l behind Starsky (11-8) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Wbee (IRE) 9-4 (11-2) Held up in last pair, closed normal 3 out, switched right bypassing normal last, soon led and quickened clear, won at Stratford 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Aug beating The Bull Mccabe (11-12) by 11l, 5 ran.
