chased leaders, lost place before 6th, well beaten before 3 out
made most until just after 2 out, 4th and no extra last
held up in mid-division, headway before 6th, challenged 2 out, soon led, mistake and headed last, rallied towards finish, bumped close home, just held
rear of mid-division, mistake 5th and next, weakened from 3 out
held up in mid-division, reminder after 4th, driven 6th, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, jumped right 2nd, headway when mistake 3 out, switched right and led last, edged left close home, driven out
chased leaders, lost place 4th, behind 6th, pulled up after 4 out
prominent, ridden and weakened quickly before 2 out
always in rear, pulled up before 3 out
prominent until 1st, chased leaders, ridden 3 out, pressing front pair before last, 3rd and no impression flat
Stag Horn likes to lead but won’t get his own way out in front here as Rafferty's Return is also a confirmed front-runner and he’s been in better form. Optimise Prime won over this trip at Lingfield in November and Up For Parol didn’t handle the undulations at Carlisle after a promising reappearance at Kempton. Already a course and distance winner, HITCHING JACKING is on a hat-trick making his handicap debut and an opening mark of 128 is probably reflective of his ability.
Up For Parol (IRE) 4-1 (12-1) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 29 1/4l behind Tanganyika (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Stag Horn 13-8 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 1st, pushed along and outpaced from 5 out, plugged on in distant 2nd thereafter, 2nd of 3, 35l behind Fusain (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f (3) gd in Feb.
Hitching Jacking (FR) 11-8fav (11-9) Close up, chased leader 2 out, disputed after last, ran on well, asserted final strides and just prevailed, won at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) sft in Jan beating Galudon (11-2) by shd, 7 ran.
Rafferty's Return 9-2 (11-5) Led, pressed for lead 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, outpaced approaching last, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Santos Blue (10-11) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Optimise Prime (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 15, dist behind Grey Dawning (11-0) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Equus Dancer (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, pecked 17th, never involved, well beaten from 3 out, 11th of 12, 32 1/2l behind Castle Robin (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Del La Mar Rocket (IRE) 22-1 (10-2) Prominent, led before 2nd, headed 4th, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 8th of 10, 34 3/4l behind Hector Javilex (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Chinwag 14-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, mistake 5 out and pushed along, soon behind and pulled up after 4 out, at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Batman For Ever (GER) 33-1 (10-11) Off the pace in last pair, closer 4 out, pushed along in mid-division after 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Fine Casting (11-3) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Limited Reserve (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Chased leaders in 3rd, went 2nd turning in, led 3 out until before 2 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 10, 20 1/2l behind Time Flies By (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
