tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra run-in
held up in touch, headway before 7 out, led 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened before last
tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, kept on same pace
led to 4 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace
in rear and in touch, headway 5 out to chase leaders, led 2 out, clear from last
held up in touch, pushed along after 4 out, weakened from 2 out
Nonrunner
Morning Royalty is almost certain to run his race again and shouldn't be far away. Newcastle second Island Confusion has only had two runs over fences so is open to improvement. Goohar only found one too good at Ludlow but is still edging up the weights and Crafty Roberto has squandered easier opportunities in the past and appears to have lost a little enthusiasm. Felix de Giles gave LITTLE JIMMY a superb ride to score at Lingfield. He will need more here but could find the others coming back to him on this ground so gets a tentative vote with Red Riverman and Ubaltique both hard to predict.
Morning Royalty (IRE) 3-1fav (11-6) Held up in rear, progress to chase leaders 4th, went 2nd 4 out, led after next, soon hampered by loose horse, headed last, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Throthethatch (10-12) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Island Confusion (IRE) 2-1jfav (11-8) Not fluent 1st and 2nd, tracked leaders next, led 3 out, 4 lengths clear when not fluent last, soon ridden and one pace, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Gold Opera (10-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Goohar (IRE) 11-2 (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, reminder after 9th, stayed on from 2 out to take 2nd last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Cloonacool (11-8) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Crafty Roberto 3-1fav (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, under pressure in 4th when blundered and unseated rider 8th, at Catterick 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Ubaltique (FR) 11-4 (11-12) Held up in rear but in touch, headway after 4 out, blundered next, weakened before last, 3rd of 5, 27l behind Chankillo (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Little Jimmy 4-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, close 3rd going well but waited with from 4 out until ridden to lead flat, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Capilla (11-12) by 3 3/4l, 4 ran.
Red Riverman 15-2 (11-11) Held up in rear but in touch, headway to track leaders after 7th, led 5 out, headed 4 out, rallied under pressure after 2nd last, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Long John (10-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
