tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten
took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 2nd, mistake 4th, ridden after 3 out, no extra next
held up in rear, some headway 5th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
towards rear, struggling 5th, plugged on flat, no threat
mid-division, pecked 1st, closed before 3rd, close up 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before next
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led next, headed before last, one pace and lost 2nd flat
mid-division, not fluent 3rd or 3 out, no headway
held up towards rear, ridden and struggling 5th, well behind when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, led before last, soon clear, stayed on well
led, not fluent 3rd, headed 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, outpaced 5th, mistake 3 out, plugged on from next, not trouble leaders
mid-division, ridden after 5th, weakened before 2 out, mistake last
in rear, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd post, no impression on front pair
non runner
non runner
A tricky opener but FLASHMAN has to go on the short-list given he's been in good form on Polytrack since winning at Plumpton. Though generally thought better on faster surfaces, he has won on soft going on the Flat and still looks fairly treated. Taweyla hasn't raced since May but is unexposed compared to most, as is the four-year-old Sky Lino. Abyaat's latest third at Taunton was a better effort and Cotswold Road is also interesting. Thundering Home has gone well here in the past but Darwins Theory has the better recent form having stormed home at Exeter last month on his return to hurdles.
Cotswold Road 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, chased winner before 3 out, no chance with winner when lost 2nd place last, one pace, 4th of 7, 16 3/4l behind Vieux Lille (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.
Deepsand (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, lost place before next, 8th of 9, 11 1/4l behind Template (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Disputed (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) In rear, pushed along and weakened from 3 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Prouts Pub (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
She's Late 25-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, effort before 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 18, 30 3/4l behind Mccabe Creek (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Gaelic Myth 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 13, dist behind Debdebdeb (11-8) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Darwins Theory (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Took keen hold tracking leaders, 2nd 3 out, led next, ridden clear before last, came further clear run-in, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Beat The Tide (11-12) by 11l, 11 ran.
Thundering Home 20-1 (11-4) In touch, jumped left 2nd, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before next, at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Chill (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Led until 2nd, not fluent 4th, not fluent and reminder 6th, last 8th, weakened 4 out, last of 5, 16 3/4l behind Walden Prince (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Taweyla (IRE) 3-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, ridden 3 out, mistake next, no chance with winner, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 12 1/2l behind Improvisation (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gf in May.
Sky Lino (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Took keen hold in last, not fluent 4th, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten before next, 4th of 5, dist behind Sceau Royal (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) sft in Dec.
Abyaat (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) In touch, not fluent 5th, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, went 3rd next, not fluent last, one pace, 3rd of 17, 5 1/4l behind Canadian Diamond (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Brown Bear (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Potters Legend (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Very Noble (FR) 14-1 (10-1) Behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out, at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Flashman 20-1 (9-2) Led 4f, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 7, 8 3/4l behind Anglophile (9-2) at Lingfield 2m stks (2) pol in Jan.
Epsom Flyer 7-2 (8-10) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, led towards finish, soon headed, no extra, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Sonnythenavigator (9-9) at Kempton 2m hcp (6) pol in Feb.
