chased leader, pressed leader briefly after 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced in 2nd, kept on but no match for the winner and lost 2nd after the last
made all, led narrowly early stages, led after 4th, niggled along and upped tempo before 2 out, 4-lengths clear and not fluent last, pushed out and well clear at the finish
tracked leaders, struggling after the 4th and soon last, regained one position after 3 out but tailed off
chased leader, pushed along in 3rd 4 out, weakened after 3 out
tracked leader, not fluent 5th, niggled along in 3rd after 3 out, stayed on when ridden and kept on for 2nd after the last
in rear, went 5th briefly after the 4th, weakened before 3 out and tailed off
NonRunner
NonRunner
Soft ground may have been to blame for CHEF DE TROUPE’s below-par effort behind Paricolor at Leicester 11 days ago. Richard Newland’s charge gets cheekpieces today and is 8lb better off so may well turn the tables on this slightly better going. It’s difficult to make a case for any of the others.
Chef De Troupe (FR) 5-6fav (11-8) Settled mid-division, slight mistake 4th, racing wide back straight, switched right before 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, not pace of winner, 3rd of 5, 9 1/2l behind Paricolor (11-5) at Leicester 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Paricolor (FR) 11-8 (11-5) In touch, going well before 4 out, joined leader 3 out, shaken up 2 out, led approaching last, always in command last 110 yards, won at Leicester 2m (4) sft in Nov beating Ferrobin (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Dark Storm 50-1 (11-0) In touch on outside, not fluent 4th, lost place before 3 out, soon weakened, last of 6, dist behind Avoid De Master (11-10) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Berboru (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Raced out wide chasing leaders, weakened quickly before 4 out, tailed off, 13th of 16, dist behind Sehayli (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Keepscalling (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Midfield, lost touch from 5 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Farne (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Nov.
Valentines Jewel (IRE) 250-1 (10-5) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, driven in rear 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Leicester 2m (3) sft in Dec.
Espion De Saflo (FR) 40-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, mistake 7th, ridden along and outpaced after 3 out, made no impression from 2 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Miss Jeanne Moon (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Larch Hill (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Raced keenly, held up towards rear, pulled his way to dispute lead after 6th, headed and ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 12, 24 3/4l behind Mr Caffrey (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f (5) gd in Nov.
