chased leaders, hampered 1st, slow 8th and 10th, soon lost place, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, hampered 1st, not fluent 9th, headway 11th, chased winner 2 out, every chance flat, held towards finish
hampered 1st, tracked winner until 2 out, 4th and no extra last, hung right flat
held up in rear, jumped left 9th, headway before 12th, lost place 4 out, weakened after next, blundered 2 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders, not fluent 4th or 2 out, went 3rd last, switched left flat, stayed on same pace
fell 1st
Minella For Me, aiming to give Tom George and Adrian Heskin back-to-back victories in this contest, is weighted to reverse Leicester running with Zayfire Aramis and shouldn’t be far away. Russborough ran better than expected when returning from a lay-off at Ascot and has won off higher mark in the past, though GLENFORDE is preferred. Cheekpieces could be the key to Kim Bailey’s novice, who ran much better at Uttoxeter having been well beaten on his chasing bow at Chepstow. Bally Gilbert and Ratify both started favourite last time but the former was very disappointing and the latter isn’t getting any younger. Chantara Rose will do well to get involved running for the first time in 14 months.
Russborough (FR) 18-1 (10-10) Chased leader until after 4th, chased leaders, not fluent 8th, 2nd again before 2 out, plugged on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Drumcliff (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Bally Gilbert (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Held up in 5th, good headway chasing leaders in 3rd at 7th, 2nd after 8th until next, chased leading pair and pushed along before 4 out, well held next, weakened, mistake and lost modest 3rd last, 4th of 8, 27 1/4l behind Lake Field (10-10) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Glenforde (IRE) 15-8fav (11-11) Tracked leaders on inside, challenged after 5 out, led next, went right 2 out, soon ridden, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Newberry New (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Ratify 3-1fav (11-6) Pressed leader, not fluent 4th, lost 2nd after 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on flat, 4th of 13, 9l behind Yorgonnahearmeroar (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Chantara Rose 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, pushed along approaching 3 out, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd at the last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Lemon's Gent (11-9) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Zayfire Aramis 10-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders before 11th, switched right approaching next, went 2nd going well 3 out, led 2 out, driven out, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Minella For Me (11-12) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Minella For Me (IRE) 4-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders, every chance 2 out, hung right and stayed on under pressure run-in, went 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 15, 3/4l behind Zayfire Aramis (11-10) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
