behind, struggling 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 6th
in touch, until ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up well in rear, headway travelling well after 3 out, took 3rd last, driven and no impression flat
tracked leader to 6th, mistake and weakened 3 out
chased leaders until weakened 6th, soon tailed off
chased leaders to after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden 5th, lost touch next, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 6th, chased leading pair 3 out, hit 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led before 2 out, hung right flat, driven out
always behind
led and soon clear, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, good headway on outside after 6th, hit 3 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on under pressure, run-in
held up in rear, headway 6th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
A trappy contest where we suggest catching Sesame Rambler first time out to beat Auetaler, Isam Top and Wenger. The selection put up a decent debut in defeat last year, and in the hope that he will do so again we will take the plunge. Gary Moore is having a good time of it at the moment, the gelding handles cut, and he is already a Taunton winner over 2m 4f, so he will certainly get home here. With the potential for improvement, he looks a decent alternative to recent Ludlow winner Auetaler. Eric McNamara had to find a seller to get the veteran's nose back in front after a four year losing streak, and full credit to him for doing so. However, consistency has not been his strong point, as we will probably see today. Isam Top is slightly out of the handicap and would probably prefer better ground, but is at least in some sort of form and can show up well again, while course and distance winner Wenger can also be involved, though again better ground and less weight from the handicapper would assist him. Not a race to go overboard on and we take Sesame Rambler to be good enough.
Honey's Gift 7-2fav (11-5) Held up, always towards rear, 7th of 10, 29l behind Festive Chimes (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Nov.
Hail The King (USA) 8-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, mistake 6th, stayed on approaching 2 out, kept on flat, never nearer, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Dolzago (11-3) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Nov.
Auetaler (GER) 7-1 (10-4) In touch, led approaching 3 out, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m cnd sll hdl (G) gd in Nov beating My Sharp Grey (10-3) by 2l, 14 ran.
Eljutan (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Not fluent and always behind, 6th of 12, 42l behind Pardon What (11-9) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Nov.
Wenger (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 6th, chased leaders after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Festive Chimes (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Nov.
Tytheknot 7-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 7th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 11, 16l behind The Mick Weston (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Jayed (IRE) 25-1 (9-13) Led and soon clear, headed and mistake 2 out, rallied flat, no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Festive Chimes (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Nov.
Coustou (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden to press leader after 3 out, one pace from next, 4th of 12, 14l behind English Jim (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gs in Nov.
