led until ridden 4 out, soon weakened
slow 4th, always behind, tailed off
chased leaders until badly hampered and lost place soon after 4 out, ridden in modest 8th before 3 out, stayed on again from 2 out, finished well to 4th close home
heled up towards rear, steady headway 4 out, ridden and ridden in 4th before next, weakened 2 out
chased leader, led 4 out, came readily clear from 2 out, easily
mid-diviison, headway on outside approaching 5th, ridden and weakened 4 out
mid-divison until lost place 5th, headway and stayed on to 3rd before 3 out, stayed on same pace under pressure next, went 2nd close home, no chance with winner
held up in mid-division, headway 5th, chased leaders under pressure before 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, lost modest 4th close home
always towards rear, no chance when blundered 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, no chance with winner from 2 out, lost 2nd towards finish
chased leaders until weakened quickly 4 out, tailed off
in touch, ridden and weakened before 3 out, hit next
This looks much too sharp for last month's Ffos Las winner Stow but Ulys Du Charmil has to go on the short-list having only found one too good on his reappearance at Doncaster, where he was sent off joint favourite. The four-year-old Tidal Way is still improving but BRICK RED had absolutely no luck in a better race at Cheltenham in November and appears to be coming back to his best. He could be the value here, though The Pier could be interesting dropping back in trip and Ffos Las second Street Dance is starting to look well treated. Red Riverman may be best of the rest.
Stow 4-1 (10-13) Always prominent, led 7th, hard ridden when strongly challenged 2 out, weakened flat, just held on, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Ski Sunday (11-6) by ns, 8 ran.
Zama Zama 66-1 (11-4) Always behind, 10th of 17, 38l behind Dark Lover (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
The Pier (IRE) 22-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, brief effort next, disputing 5th when fell last, in a race won by Close House (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Red Riverman 12-1 (11-3) Mid-division, mistake 1st, headway approaching last, stayed on well, never able to challenge, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Ballybriggan (11-10) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Brick Red 6-1 (11-5) Held up rear of mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, chasing leaders when badly hampered next, rallied and keeping on when squeezed out approaching last, driven and no extra run-in, 6th of 16, 16l behind Ifandbutwhynot (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Gud Day (IRE) 22-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, one pace from last, 4th of 15, 7l behind Tanerko Emery (11-11) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.
Canadian Diamond (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Mid-division, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 12, well behind Petit Robin (11-5) at Sandown 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Dec.
Ulys Du Charmil (FR) 4-1fav (10-5) Held up in touch in 4th, chased leaders before 3 out, soon went 2nd, one pace from next, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Robbie (10-4) at Doncaster 2m Handicap Hurdle (0-140) (3yo+) (3) gs in Dec.
Street Dance (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Pulled hard, soon prominent, led after 4 out, headed before next, weakening when hit 2 out and last, 2nd of 7, 18l behind Scorched Son (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Tidal Way (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, soon went 2nd, led when not fluent 3 out, ridden and edged left after last, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Vasco D'ycy (10-12) by 2l, 10 ran.
Taroum (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Raced wide, chased leaders, every chance 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 16, 32l behind Duaiseoir (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
In The Crowd (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, wandered and led last, ran on well, won at Warwick 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Bordoni (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 15 ran.
