tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
behind, outpaced 5 out
led, reminders 4th, headed 11th, weakened after 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, led 11th, clear 4 out, mistake 3 out, stayed on strongly, eased towards finish
soon tracked leaders, bumped 4th, mistake 8th, chased winner before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, kept on and no impression
mid-division, fell 8th
held up behind, headway 11th, went 2nd before 4 out, one pace in 3rd
tracked leaders, bumped 4th, weakening when blundered 6th, tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
This looks the most competitive race on the card as several have decent claims. Deputy Commander showed plenty of resolution to hold off Duke Arcadio at Doncaster and he’s only 5lb higher but Walk On Al has a 7lb penalty for his defeat of Replacement Plan here nine days ago. HIGHWAY STORM (NAP) did well to win here last month over 2m5f as his rider dropped his whip. He’s now two from two on this track and hat-trick beckons with the return to a longer distance no problem. Allez Vic still isn’t really firing while respective form lines suggest Dr Robin and Zephyros Bleu have plenty to find.
The Horsechesnut (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Chased leaders early, slight mistake 3rd, mid-division and mistake 5th, no extra before 4 out, weakened and fell 2 out, at Punchestown 2m 4f sft in Nov.
Deputy Commander (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Held up, closed after 3rd, challenged 13th, ridden and 3 lengths down 2 out, led flat, stayed on, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Duke Arcadio (11-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Highway Storm (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) With leader, led 4th, headed 10th, led again 12th, ridden 4 out, rider dropped whip soon after last, ran on gamely flat, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Return Flight (11-4) by nk, 8 ran.
Zephyros Bleu (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Close up, headway 4 out, blundered next, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Highway Storm (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Dr Robin (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division and keen, outpaced before 6 out, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before last, kept on, 3rd of 17, 14l behind Achimota (11-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Walk On Al (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Chased leaders, led 5 out, mistake 4 out, head 2 out, rallied to regain lead run-in, kept on gamely, won at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Replacement Plan (10-1) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Allez Vic (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place before 4 out when outpaced, 5th of 7, 13l behind Ultimatum Du Roy (11-6) at Ludlow 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Ambion Lane (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden before 7th, soon lost place, 11th of 14, dist behind Florrie Boy (12-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
