tracked leaders, mistake 1st and lost place, hit next, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up after 3rd
held up, headway 5th, one pace, no impression from 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner approaching 3 out, one pace and no impression from next
held up, pushed along after 4th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
made all, clear when blundered 2 out, hit next, easily
behind, jumped left and slow 3rd, soon well behind
chased winner, hit 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace
held up in touch, ridden after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
always behind, tailed off 3 out
The Duke's Speech gets the confident vote here with Triple Mint and Turn The Corner rated the main dangers. The selection was a fair sort in bumpers and was sixth in a much better race behind L'Antartique. This looks easier and under conditions that suit he will be hard to beat. Triple Mint rates the main danger on his debut third behind What A Vintage but that form has since been let down and for that reason he is opposed. Turn The Corner is another worthy of respect on his best form but he has not progressed as expected. Of the others, Kempski could improve for the fitting of first-time cheek pieces but he will need to do so to defeat The Duke's Speech who gets the confident vote.
Border Craic (IRE) 125-1 (10-12) Towards rear, lost touch halfway, tailed off when pulled up at the 5th in race won by King of Confusion (10-5) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Cedar Rapids (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Led, soon clear, mistake 2nd and ran out at the 5th in race won by Youlbesolucky (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Kempski 20-1 (10-5) Led to 2nd, chased leaders until 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Best Profile (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy in Oct, 9 ran.
Le Millenaire (FR) 33-1 (10-13) Mistakes, soon towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 11, well behind Kinburn (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 5f beg chs (E) sft in Dec.
Native Coll 100-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, lost place over 6f out, last of 19, well behind Young Albert (11-4) at Ayr 2m nhf (H) sft in Dec.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Raced keenly in touch, effort approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 6th of 12, 22l behind L'Antartique (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov hdl (E) gd in Dec.
The Right People (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden and hung left from over 3f out, no impression, 9th of 16, 17l behind Harry Flashman (10-10) at Ayr 2m nhf (H) gd in Mar.
Triple Mint (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Prominent, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 3rd of 8, 12l behind What A Vintage (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (H) hvy in Nov.
Turn The Corner (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Behind when hampered 3 out, tailed off, 15th of 18, well behind North Landing (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Dec.
Claudia May 100-1 (10-6) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up at the last in race won by Serbelloni (11-2) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (E) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
