kept wide, ran in snatches, chased leaders, awkward 2nd, pushed along on stable bend after 5th, ridden and weakened before 10th, tailed off
tracked leader 2nd, led before 11th, ridden and narrowly headed 2 out, chased winner, no extra run-in
raced on inside, chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out
pushed along to lead, headed before 11th, ridden and struggling when lost 2nd before 3 out, weakened soon after
kept wide, held up in last trio, headway on outside tracking leaders before 10th, 2nd before 3 out until dropped to 3rd after 3 out, no extra when hit 2 out, eased run-in
keen, tracked leaders, weakened 10th, tailed off
held up last, reminders and struggling after 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up in last pair, pushed along after 7th, good headway on outside tracking leaders before 3 out, 2nd after 3 out, wandered and led narrowly 2 out, ridden and stayed on well run-in
Cheque En Blanc is on a roll and his winning form has been franked, though this is a step up in grade, SANDHURST LAD won over shorter here in November and was second last time over course and distance with cheekpieces applied. He hasn’t raced on heavy ground before but looks the one to beat if he handles the surface. Somerset Jem is getting closer but still 7lb higher than for his only win so far. Shoofly Milly remains out of sorts and Achille is also worth opposing until showing signs of a revival.
Achille (FR) 15-8fav (11-12) Chased leaders, pushed along 11th, behind from 4 out, tailed off 2 out, 5th of 6, 30 1/4l behind Spock (10-0) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Sandhurst Lad (IRE) 17-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced in 3rd 3 out, plugged on into 2nd run-in, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Ballyheigue Bay (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Sartorial Elegance 5-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place and behind approaching 8th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Shoofly Milly (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden before 7th, soon lost place, well beaten after 4 out, 8th of 15, 28 1/2l behind Dahills Hill (10-8) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Cheque En Blanc (FR) 2-1 (11-9) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, every chance 2 out, ridden to lead before last, held on well towards finish, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (5) sft in Jan beating Amberjam (12-2) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Somerset Jem 9-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, hung right and led before 2 out, strongly challenged last, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Culture De Sivola (11-10) at Taunton 3m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Landscape (FR) 20-1 (11-4) Chased leaders on outside, led 6th until after 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 10, 28 3/4l behind Stolberg (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
The Golden Hour (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, 4th and well held from 3 out, mistake 2 out, plugged on flat, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 12 1/2l behind Tara Well (10-13) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
