held up in 5th, closer tracking leaders at 4th, 2nd on outside 3 out, challenged and not fluent next, soon ridden, 1/2 length down last, driven and stayed on same pace run-in
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, outpaced in 4th before next
chasing leaders out wide when stumbled badly and almost unseated rider 1st, tracked leader after next, led next, made rest, went left 3 out, 1/2 length ahead last, ridden and stayed on gamely run-in
last pair, never on terms, outpaced and no chance from 10th
raced on inside, led until 3rd, chased winner, pushed along and lost 2nd 3 out, soon weakened quickly, tailed off
in rear, stumbled 2nd, fell 8th
chased leader until after 2nd, chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, stayed on same pace in 3rd run-in
There won’t be any hanging about in this as Moonlighter and Billingsley are both headstrong and like to make the running. Caribean Boy will need to ensure there is a good gallop as he stays further and that could play into the hands of DOLOS, only a pound higher than when landing this 12 months ago. The latter has twice run well at Cheltenham this season and he holds Destrier on the form book. Paddy's Poem has been lightly raced but this is a tall order from 5lb out of the handicap.
Dolos (FR) 13-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, led 3 out, headed before next, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 15 3/4l behind Mister Fisher (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Caribean Boy (FR) 4-5fav (11-7) Jumped slowly 1st, raced wide in 3rd, went 2nd at 4th, pushed along before 13th, well held and no impression next, weakened into 3rd run-in, last of 3, 7l behind Dashel Drasher (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (2) hvy in Dec.
Moonlighter 9-2 (12-2) Mid-division on inside, jumped slowly 3rd, headway chasing leaders and went left 8th, closer in 3rd 4 out, went badly left next, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 8, 14l behind Ibleo (11-9) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Destrier (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, hampered 1st, went 4th from 4 out, no impression, well beaten 2 out, 4th of 6, 24 1/4l behind Sky Pirate (11-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Billingsley (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Led, mistake and unseated rider 9th, at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Mr One More (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 11th until next, 2nd again 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, soon lost 2nd, chased leaders, weakened between last 2, 4th of 10, 25 3/4l behind Killer Clown (10-5) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Paddy's Poem 16-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, led last, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Ibleo (11-9) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
