held up towards rear out wide, steady headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders before next, went 2nd final 100 yards, never going pace to reach winner
chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders out wide, pushed along after 3 out, weakened soon after
chased leaders, tracked winner 2nd, led briefly 4th, lost 2nd before 3 out, weakened quickly after 3 out, behind and pulled up before next
held up towards rear, closer in mid-division approaching 3 out, pushed along after 3 out, weakened next
raced keenly, made virtually all, possibly headed briefly 4th, clear when edged left run-in, stayed on gamely
waited with in rear, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders out wide, weakened after 3 out
towards rear of mid-division out wide, closer approaching 4 out, weakened after next
chased winner until 2nd, chased leaders, pushed along in 3rd after 3 out, went 2nd next, no impression on winner, lost 2nd final 100 yards
chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, pushed along and lost 2nd next, weakened between last 2
held up in rear-division, headway approaching last, stayed on run-in, went never nearer 4th towards finish
always rear-division, never a factor
always towards rear
in touch in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4 out, pushed along after next, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on inside before 2 out, stayed on into never nearer 4th between last 2, weakened into 5th towards finish
mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders after 3 out, soon driven along in 4th, weakened before 2 out
NOT SO SLEEPY played a big part in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, despite trying to refuse and unseating Paddy Brennan at the first. He does have his quirks but is 2-2 around here, including this last year, and was in terrific form on the Flat in the autumn. Malaya also goes well here and should pick up some prize money again with the ground in her favour but Buzz has gone up 11lb since last month’s course and distance victory. His yard also run the equally-unexposed Time Flies By at the opposite end of the handicap and the four-year-old Night Edition is worth a market check. Oakley’s third at Wetherby should be the prelude to a successful campaign and Lightly Squeeze represents a yard that is flying at present. Benson completed his hat-trick in a Listed handicap at Sandown two weeks ago and makes more appeal than Irish raider Belfast Banter and Kid Commando.
Buzz (FR) Evensfav (11-11) Mid-division, headway 3 out, travelled well to join leaders 2 out, ridden to lead after last, went clear, impressive, won at Ascot 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Rosie And Millie (11-4) by 7l, 11 ran.
Master Debonair 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leader until 4 out, soon pushed along, lost place and behind next, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Sceau Royal (11-0) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) gd in Nov.
Botox Has (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Chased winner, pushed along before 3 out, lost 2nd next, soon ridden in 3rd, weakened run-in, 4th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Floressa (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Kid Commando 5-1 (11-12) Led, headed 1st, lost ground and midfield 4 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 14, 18l behind War Lord (11-0) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Harambe 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, raced keenly, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and still pressing leaders in 6th when fell last, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Not So Sleepy 22-1 (11-7) Led, tried to refuse approaching 1st and unseated rider, at Newcastle 2m (1) gd in Nov.
West To The Bridge (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, steady headway between horses before 4 out, progress to chase leaders travelling strongly 2 out, ridden and weakened flat, 5th of 17, 8 3/4l behind Main Fact (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Malaya (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, lost place after 2nd, closed from 5th, chased winner after 3 out, not fluent last, no impression flat, 2nd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Kid Commando (11-4) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
Arrivederci (FR) 4-1fav (11-5) Ridden handy, progress travelling strongly when fell 3 out, at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Lightly Squeeze 9-1 (10-10) Chased leaders on inside, hampered bend after 4 out, switched right soon after, pushed along approaching 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Sceau Royal (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Oakley (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Mid-division, smooth progress to challenge 2 out, slow last, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 11, 3 1/4l behind Anemoi (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Benson 9-2 (10-6) Mid-division but drifted back slightly when leaders went clear, headway into third when mistake 2 out, rallied to go 2nd at last, quickened well run-in to lead final 100 yards, won at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec beating Galice Macalo (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Night Edition (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, not much room briefly after 2 out, went 2nd soon after last, pressed winner, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 22, 1l behind Aramax (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Cormier (IRE) 18-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, mistake 4 out, pushed along 3 out, staying on but still a bit to do when mistake and left 7th last, never on terms, 7th of 14, 11 3/4l behind The Shunter (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Time Flies By (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Held up, headway after 5th, ridden and headway 2 out, went clear 2nd before last, ran on, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Danny Kirwan (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn (3) sft in Nov.
Belfast Banter (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Mid-division, 5th halfway, closer 3 out, 2nd travelling well entering straight, pushed along to lead last, ridden and headed run-in, no impression on winner closing stages, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Rescue Package (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 1f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Isolate (FR) 4-7fav (11-4) Raced keenly, led until after 2nd, chased leader, led before 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Leicester 2m (3) sft in Nov beating Chez Castel Mail (10-12) by 7l, 7 ran.
