prominent on inside, slow and lost place 7th, well beaten before 2 out
led, not fluent 7th, headed 3 out, weakened before next
prominent, led 3 out, headed next, one pace and beaten before last, lost 3rd flat
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and no impression from next
held up towards rear on outside, headway 8th, challenged 3 out, led before last, hung left flat, stayed on to draw clear final 100 yards
in touch in mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway on outside 7th, challenged 3 out, led next, headed before last, switched right flat, no impression on winner inside final 100 yards
held up towards rear, outpaced after 3 out, headway approaching last, stayed on and went 3rd flat, no impression on winner but closing on 2nd towards finish
prominent, mistake 5th, every chance 3 out, one pace next, weakened before last
Tom Humphries brought ARTHUR’S GIFT with a well-timed run to land a similar contest over course and distance last month. He’ll need to defy another 6lb rise to complete the four-timer but his young rider still claims 7lb so he may be the one to beat. Red Rising is still unexposed and stepped up on his comeback run at Chepstow when winning easily at Southwell. He should go well and so should Chepstow scorer Lovenormoney, who loves the mud. Buckle Street won at Catterick last month but steps up in class for this off a 7lb higher mark. Lingfield winner Boyhood was only fourth off this mark at Newbury and Whataknight continues to looking in the handicapper’s grip.
Whataknight 9-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, smooth headway before 3 out, soon chased leaders, weakened next, 7th of 11, 32 1/2l behind The Organist (11-3) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Lovenormoney (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Made all, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Present Times (10-12) by 9l, 9 ran.
Arthur's Gift (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, rallied before last, led inside final 100 yards, stayed on, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Sykes (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Skipthecuddles (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway before 5 out, ridden after 2 out, one pace, 5th of 13, 15 3/4l behind Red Rising (10-11) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Boyhood (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 5th, pushed along before 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th towards finish, 4th of 11, 10l behind The Organist (11-3) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Red Rising (IRE) 9-4fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, well in command when left clear from last, won at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Raz De Maree (10-13) by 9l, 13 ran.
Buckle Street 4-1jfav (11-12) In touch, went 2nd from before 4 out, led run-in, held on well, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Tanarpino (11-13) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Supreme Steel (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway before 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 9, 36 1/2l behind Lovenormoney (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
