held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened
towards rear, mistake 6th, went modest 6th before last, never dangerous
mid-division on inside, closed when mistake 6th, not fluent next, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
prominent, led before 2 out, soon headed, no impression on winner and lost 2nd flat
prominent, not fluent 4th, soon lost place, behind 7th, pulled up before last
in rear, outpaced 3 out, no impression, well beaten before 2 out
mid-division, headway 5th, 3rd 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, stayed on
chased leaders on outside, struggling 7th, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, outpaced 7th, no impression after, well beaten before 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 2 out, went 4th last, stayed on, never on terms
led, not fluent 2nd, headed before mistake 2 out, held after, lost 4th last
always handy, led 2 out, asserting last, drew clear flat, readily
This is hugely competitive but Lightly Squeeze merits close inspection having stayed on into third behind Not So Sleepy over 2m here last month when finishing ahead of ARRIVEDERCI and Botox Has. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge had started joint favourite that day but didn’t perform and may have been feeling the effects of a heavy fall at Haydock earlier when challenging in a race eventually won by War Lord. A return to a longer trip is in his favour and he could recoup losses. There are plenty of dangers, however, including Hereford scorer Dans Le Vent and course and distance winner Danny Kirwan, who didn’t appear to stay 3m at Cheltenham. Kateson won well at Aintree last month and, though a nine-year-old, Paddys Motorbike is improving. Both of Nicky Henderson’s pair, Janika and Craigneiche, lack a recent outing but that is rarely a problem for the yard’s runners.
Janika (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Tracked leader until after 1st, chased leading pair until weakened before 2 out, left remote 2nd at the last, 2nd of 4, 14l behind Riders Onthe Storm (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Botox Has (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leaders out wide, pushed along after 3 out, weakened soon after, 12th of 17, 31 1/4l behind Not So Sleepy (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Lightly Squeeze 22-1 (11-1) 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, 3rd of 17, 3 1/4l behind Not So Sleepy (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Kateson 5-1 (11-1) Led, strongly pressed and headed narrowly 2 out, ridden and rallied gamely run-in, won in head bob, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Eternally Yours (10-3) by ns, 11 ran.
Nordano (GER) 33-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, outpaced when not fluent 2 out, soon well held, 11th of 12, dist behind Storm Arising (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
War Lord (GER) 2-1fav (11-9) Keen towards rear, steady headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on under pressure from last but no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 9 1/4l behind Albert's Back (11-4) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Arrivederci (FR) 5-1jfav (11-2) Towards rear of mid-division out wide, closer approaching 4 out, weakened after next, 11th of 17, 23 3/4l behind Not So Sleepy (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
I K Brunel 20-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden for effort before 2 out, faded approaching last, 8th of 12, 16 3/4l behind Hill Sixteen (10-4) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Danny Kirwan (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Chased leader, raced keenly, led after 4th, headed after next, every chance normal 2 out, ridden before omitted last, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 30 3/4l behind Make Good (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Dans Le Vent (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, took closer order after 4 out, went second after 3 out, travelled well into lead just after next, pressed last and headed soon after, rallied well to lead again on line, won at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating No Comment (11-10) by shd, 7 ran.
Paddys Motorbike (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-4) Led until 2nd, led 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec beating Ballymillsy (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Craigneiche (IRE) 4-11fav (11-6) Chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced when hit 2 out, rallied on wide outside to lead before last, driven clear, won at Doncaster 2m 5f mdn (5) sft in Jan beating Ulverston (11-6) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
