chased leaders, closed 9th, led 3 out, clear after next, stayed on well, comfortably
led until 8th, one pace 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, led 8th, not fluent 9th or 10th, headed 3 out, no impression on winner from 2 out, stayed on same pace
took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, mistake next, weakened before next
held up in rear, slightly hampered 12th, some headway 4 out, no impression from next
held up, in rear and no impression when not fluent 4 out, stayed on approaching last, unable to get on terms
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, no impression on winner after next, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, closed 8th, tracking leaders when slithered on landing and unseated rider 12th
held up, hampered and lost place 12th, blundered 4 out, mistake and well beaten 3 out, pulled up after 2 out
Tara Road disappointed again when pulled up at Stratford last month but Upepito was only beaten a neck at Wetherby on his reappearance and will be fancied to go one better here. Minella Forfitness is back in a handicap after finishing second to Katgary in a novices' event at Fakenham but has his fair share of weight, as do Alderbrook Lad and the returning Pepite Rose. Bincombe and Baileys Concerto were first and third over course and distance in December last year but the latter comes out best at the weights today. BALLYGARVEY was quite highly tried after winning at Ascot at the end of last year. A recent sixth at Chepstow will have blown away any cobwebs and he's back on a winning from which he is capable of going close.
Pepite Rose (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, pecked 3rd (water), headway tracking leaders 9th, pushed along before 2 out, driven and one pace between last 2, went 4th last, kept on in closing stages, 4th of 9, 5l behind Menorah (11-10) at Sandown 2m 6f lst (1) gd in Apr.
Alderbrook Lad (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Led, hit 3 out, drew 7 lengths clear after last, ridden and came back to field inside final furlong, headed and dropped to 4th towards finish, 4th of 6, 1 3/4l behind Dreamsoftheatre (10-9) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Ballygarvey (FR) 6-1 (10-5) Led, headed before 5 out, outpaced before 3 out, 6th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Astracad (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Minella Forfitness (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Keen tracked leaders, tracked winner 11th, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Katgary (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f (3) gd in Oct.
De Boitron (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Last pair, blundered 2nd, toawrds rear and reminders after 9th, never on terms,, 8th of 13, 23 1/4l behind Presenting Junior (10-6) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Baileys Concerto (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Held up, in touch in mid-division, outpaced 3f out, no impression, plugged on inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 10 1/4l behind La Bacouetteuse (9-6) at Ayr 1m 7f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Bincombe 7-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 4th, headed after 5 out, no chance with winner from 3 out, lost modest 2nd flat, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Glen Countess (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in May.
Upepito (FR) 3-1fav (11-4) Tracked leaders in 4th, left 3rd from 3rd, went 2nd before 4 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden before last, every chance run-in, held near finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Village Vic (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Tara Road 5-1fav (11-6) Mid-division, lost place before 4 out, hampered 3 out, soon pulled up, at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
