held up in touch, not fluent 4th or 7th, close up after 3 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd close home
tracked leaders on inside, took keen hold, weakened before 2 out
held up in touch, pushed along after 5th, weakened well before 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, lost place 6th, well behind after 3 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on, went 4th close home, not trouble leaders
held up on outside, closed after 4th, close up after 3 out, weakened well before next
mid-division, hit 6th, headway after 3 out, hung right before last, hung left flat, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, 2nd 4th, led after 3 out, clear flat, stayed on well
held up in rear, ridden after 3 out, well beaten before next
well in rear, modest headway after 3 out, no impression, well beaten next
held up in rear, ridden and struggling after 3 out
tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, lost 2nd 4th, struggling after 3 out
led, not always fluent and jumped left at times, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway on outside 7th, close up after 3 out, no impression on winner flat, went 2nd close home
A modest but well-contested opener in which most would have some sort of chance. Tom Scudamore rides Citrus so it’s safe to assume that the Plumpton winner is the pick of David Pipe’s two runners, though the second did nothing for the form at Carlisle on Sunday. Miracle Cure won off a 6lb lower mark here last month but failed to follow up at Taunton. Wicked Willy has had a break and Polo The Mumm looks too high in the weights now but Lets Go Dutchess wasn’t winning out of turn at Taunton, though steps up a grade off a 5lb higher mark. LAPALALA looked in need of the outing at Exeter last month and ran accordingly. Richard Johnson takes over the reins here and better is expected from this lightly-raced sort. Soupy Soups looks best of the rest.
Wicked Willy (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway on inside 6th, not fluent 3 out, soon led, strongly pressed from next, headed close home, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind River Of Intrigue (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Jun.
Citrus (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Held up, left in lead 2nd, went left next, clear when went left again 2 out, soon ridden, clear when went left again last, all out, won at Plumpton 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Bubsy Burbidge (10-12) by nk, 8 ran.
Never Learn (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 4th from 2 out, went 3rd from last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 10 1/2l behind Copain De Classe (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Fin D'espere (IRE) 4-1cfav (11-3) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, poor 6th when pulled up before next, at Kempton 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Lapalala (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before last, 9th of 11, 13l behind Third Act (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Polo The Mumm (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Mid-division, closed on inside 7th, pushed along 8th, outpaced from next, no impression on leaders after, 5th of 9, 6 3/4l behind Ballinure (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Miracle Cure (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Held up off the pace in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, chance when slightly hampered last, hung right under pressure run-in, 2nd and held when hung left 100 yards out, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Clic Work (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Soupy Soups (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Verygoodverygood (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Tonganui (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, driven before 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, weakened flat, 5th of 14, 20 3/4l behind Peak To Peak (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Lord Ballim (FR) 7-2 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 9, 15 1/4l behind Verygoodverygood (12-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Carqalin (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 9, 19 3/4l behind Verygoodverygood (12-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Lucky Gal 14-1 (10-5) In rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before last, 7th of 13, 16 3/4l behind Utility (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Jump And Jump (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Led, clear from 3rd, headed before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 7, 18 3/4l behind Queens Present (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct.
Shanghai Sunrise 40-1 (10-12) Led until 4th, led again aproaching next, mistake and headed 4 out, weakened quickly soon after next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Nov.
Lets Go Dutchess 6-5fav (11-2) Held up in rear, smooth headway tracking leaders after 3 out, went 2nd between last 2, challenged and hit last, stayed on to lead final 150 yards, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Nov beating Shaddaii (10-6) by 3l, 11 ran.
