took keen hold tracking leaders, tracked leading pair 3rd, led next, clear when hit 6th, stayed on well, easily
tracked leading pair until lost place 5th, rallied to modest 4th 2 out
chased leader until 3rd, chased winner from next, well held from 3 out, kept on for clear 2nd
took keen hold and always towards rear, tailed off
raced wide, took keen hold towards rear, struggling 6th, disputing poor 6th when mistake 2 out
always towards rear, struggling 6th, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway on outside after 6th, went 3rd after 3 out, no impression when hit next
took keen hold in last pair, struggling 6th, never on terms, tailed off
took keen hold, chased leaders, went 3rd at 5th, not fluent next, weakened before 3 out
took keen hold, held up in touch, headway to 3rd before 3 out, weakened soon after, well beaten in 6th when mistake 2 out, weakened, tailed off
always in rear, tailed off
slight lead at steady pace until headed 4th, chased leaders, weakened before 6th, tailed off
It is a bit of a worry that The Tiger apparently failed to get home when a remote fourth on his debut at Fakenham. He did pull much too hard that day, however, and this useful Flat performer should be a factor if settling better here. But we still fancy VALDEZ to give the weight away as he was taking on decent opposition at Cheltenham last month having won comfortably at Huntingdon earlier. Bumper winner Listen And Learn hasn't shown much over timber so far but Asker should improve for his run at Kempton on Boxing Day and Islandmagee has shown promise, though hasn't raced since May of last year.
Valdez 8-1 (11-4) Mid-division, tracked leaders on inside 2 out, effort and every chance betwen last 2, soon ridden, weakened flat, 7th of 8, 10l behind Melodic Rendezvous (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) hvy in Dec.
Aciano (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) In touch, reminder after 4th, weakened after 4 out, behind when blundered next, tailed off, 15th of 18, well behind Poet (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Asker (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division on outside, ridden after 3 out, never on terms, weakened next, 6th of 10, 47l behind River Maigue (11-0) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Avison (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 5th, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by River Maigue (11-0) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (2) hvy in Dec, 10 ran.
Bluegrass Bid (USA) 28-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, mistakes 2nd and next, weakened after 2 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Lord Of House (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Camera Shy (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Started very slowly, behind, headway 2f out, switched left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong to press for 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 8l behind The Ducking Stool (9-1) at Yarmouth 1m 3f app hcp (6) gf in Jul (flat).
Islandmagee (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Pulled hard, chased leaders, hit 2 out, soon outpaced, hit last, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 6, 10l behind High Storm (11-5) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Listen And Learn (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until pushed along before 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Robbie (11-12) at Southwell 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Mr Bingley 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, soon chased winner until 4 out, soon weakened, lost 3rd place before 2 out, 5th of 9, well behind The New One (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
The Tiger 2-1fav (11-5) Pulled hard, chased leaders, went remote 2nd 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 6, 42l behind Ubaldo Des Menhies (11-5) at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (5) sft.
Byresteads Farm 100-1 (10-10) Not fluent in rear, behind 7th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Carole's Destiny (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
I'm So Special (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 11, 16l behind Ginger Fizz (11-4) at Southwell 2m mrs NH flat (4-7yo) (6) gs in Jan '12.
