held up in mid-division, smooth headway and every chance last, ridden and soon one pace
in touch, chased leaders 2 out, smooth headway to lead last, stayed on strongly flat
tracked leader, prominent halfway, led approaching 6th, hit 2 out, soon ridden, headed last and weakened flat
held up in touch, smooth headway to track leaders approaching 3 out, 2 lengths down in 3rd and going well when fell 3 out
led until 6th, beaten from 3 out
always behind, lost touch from halfway
WENDEL can justify Charlie Mann's 700 mile round trip by getting the better of Alfie Flits. The Lambourn handler has always held a high opinion of his youngster and he has proved himself to be close to the best with two smart performances at Ascot. The first of those saw him finish close up behind the Festival bound Medermit and he trounced Chariot Charger in the second of them. Alfie Flits has been in good form of late although his Haydock win has taken a few knocks and the Kempton race in which he finished fourth was run at a false pace. There's not a huge amount to choose between the remainder and course winner Knockara Beau could just surprise some of the bigger names by making the frame. Doeslessthanme has a handy swing in the weights with Alfie Flits and may be the pick of the Johnson pair but they may both have to play second fiddle to Wendel.
Alfie Flits 6-1 (11-9) Chased leader, hit 4th, led well before 2 out, narrowly headed 2 out, stayed challenging, every chance when slightly hampered flat, unable to quicken close home, 4th of 8, 3l behind Trenchant (10-11) at Kempton 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 15-8jt-fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, prominent 6th, soon led, ridden after 3 out, hit last, driven and ran on well flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd beating Divers (11-10) by 3l, 12 ran.
Wendel (GER) 11-8 (11-8) Given at least 8 lengths start, maintained clear advantage, given breather after 3 out, ridden, drew clear again after 2 out, eased near finish, unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) hvy beating Chariot Charger (11-5) by 11l, 7 ran.
Doeslessthanme (IRE) 1-3fav (11-5) Always handy, smooth headway to lead on bit approaching 2 out, blundered last, driven out, comfortably, won at Musselburgh 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Dec beating Morning Sunshine (10-12) by 5l, 8 ran.
Mr Woods 28-1 (11-4) Held up in touch and keen, led 4th, headed 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 16, 25l behind Tarablaze (11-11) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Teenage Idol (IRE) 10-11fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Comhla Ri Coig (11-7) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
