steadied start, held up and always in rear
in touch, ridden and effort to chase winner approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, lost 2nd flat
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden and stayed on under pressure from 2 out, no impression
tracked leader, led 3 out, 15 lengths clear last, eased towards finish, easily
towards rear, effort after 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, never nearer
in touch, chased winner after 3 out to before next, weakened last
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
led, headed 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
keen early, held up behind, mistake 4th, soon struggling, pulled up before last
raced keenly, held up, always towards rear
chased leaders, reminders after 3rd, soon lost place, tailed off from 3 out
mid-division, reminders 4 out, outpaced when mistake next, no danger after
raced keenly, held up in touch, lost place after 3rd, headway 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd, flat, no chance with winner
always behind
Nonrunner
WOODY VALENTINE is the recommendation with Mischief Man and Mister Fizzbomb the others to hold claims. The selection had proved bitterly disappointing since leaving Mark Johnston on the level but he ran one of his best races to date over course-and-distance and can represent value in a bad race. He does have to reverse form with Mischief Man. Mick Easterby's charge landed some sizeable bets on that occasion though consistency is not his strong suit. Mister Fizzbomb would have a chance if able to secure first run but he is exposed as modest. Anduril is on a long losing run. Mister Jungle has been pulled up on his last two starts, the last obtaining on Boxing Day. Mount Usher has been busy in plating company on the flat. Bud's Dilemma was not totally disgraced in a similar race at Wetherby. Delta Lady has an interesting jockey booking under the circumstances. It doesn't get much worse than this and Woody Valentine is put forward as the most token of selections.
Mount Usher 33-1 (10-8) Always in rear, 10th of 13, well behind Circus Rose (11-2) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Mischief Man 15-2 (10-7) Prominent, ridden 2 out, driven to lead last, all out, won at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd beating Viscount Rossini (11-2) by a nk, 15 ran.
Anduril 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakening when not fluent last, 5th of 11, 10l behind Roisin's Prince (10-9) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Woody Valentine (USA) 15-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, no extra after, 5th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Mischief Man (10-7) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Beech Games 40-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 9, 21l behind Supsonic (10-5) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) sft.
Giant Star (USA) 22-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, tracked leaders until fell at the 10th in race won by Festival King (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf, 10 ran.
Taran Tregarth 20-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Monsieur Georges (10-11) at Leicester 2m 4f cnd sll hcp hdl (5) hvy, 12 ran.
Buds Dilemma 18-1 (11-0) Prominent, led 3 out, ridden and headed next, one pace from last, 4th of 11, 18l behind Titfer (10-7) at Doncaster 2m sll hdl (5) gd.
Lindseyfield Lodge (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Held up, headway 6th, ridden and no extra from 2 out, 11th of 15, 26l behind Mischief Man (10-7) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Delta Lady 28-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden and weakened before omitted 3rd last, 9th of 14, well behind North Walk (11-9) at Fakenham 2m cnd sll hcp hdl (5) gf in Oct.
Riverhill (IRE) 125-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, 14th of 15, well behind Frank Crow (11-3) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Go Commercial (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Led to 3rd, ridden and weakened approaching 5 out, 10th of 13, well behind Comhla Ri Coig (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft.
Ras Laffan 12-1 (10-7) Soon behind, never dangerous, 6th of 9, well behind Maidstone Mixture (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Aug.
Cuccinello (IRE) 22-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, weakened after 4 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Duke of Malfi (11-3) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov, 11 ran.
Mister Fizzbomb (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Chased leader, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 5th of 17, 10l behind Three Thieves (11-2) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Mister Jungle (FR) 14-1 (10-4) Led, headed and reminders 9th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Ryminster (10-11) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
