held up off the pace, went 3rd after 3rd, closed on leader after 3 out, led before next, clear when jumped right and not fluent last, edged left flat, driven out, ran on
reluctant to line up, led in and got a flyer, took keen hold and soon well clear, pecked 3 out, headed, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear off the pace, closed after 3 out, ridden and not quicken before last, stayed on same pace flat
held up 3rd off the pace, chased clear leader before 3rd, closed after 3 out, led before next, soon headed, stayed on same pace last
chased clear leader until before 3rd, last next, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up off the pace in rear, not fluent 3 out, soon closed on leader, went 2nd after 2 out, switched right flat, held by winner, stayed on
Some smart two-milers have won this in the past, including former champion Binocular. His trainer runs Call Me Lord, who has won four of his six starts over timber and looks ready for this step up in class. Cliffs Of Dover won six of his seven starts as a juvenile, including one in this grade. But injury forced him to miss the second half of last season and he’ll probably need this. Elgin was a useful novice last season and has improved again this winter, winning the valuable Greatwood at Cheltenham in November. Flying Tiger ran well in the Elite Hurdle here in November and was then third in the Fighting Fifth before failing to cope with a big weight at Doncaster, but he has a bit to find on these terms. CH’TIBELLO keeps finding one too good but never seems to run a bad race. The weights are framed in his favour today and it will be disappointing if he can’t take advantage.
Elgin 13-2 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway on inside chasing leaders before 2 out, run flattened out and weakened last, 6th of 17, 9 3/4l behind Hunters Call (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Cliffs Of Dover 1-3fav (11-5) Made all all, unchallenged, kept on well run-in, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) gd in Dec beating Lord Justice (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Flying Tiger (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) In rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before last, 4th of 9, 11l behind Irish Roe (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Call Me Lord (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) Held up in close 5th on inside, headway 3 out, went 2nd travelling well soon after 2 out, led between last 2, driven clear run-in, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Our Merlin (10-6) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Cap'n (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always last, outpaced 3 out, never involved, last of 3, dist behind Buveur D'Air (11-6) at Sandown 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Ch'tibello (FR) 15-8 (11-4) Tracked leaders, chased winner before 3 out, ridden after last, led run-in, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind The New One (11-10) at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
