led 1st until 3rd, led 6th, mistake 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, mistake 6th, headway before next, weakened before last
held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, mistake next, well beaten before 3 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, lost place before 3 out, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway 9th, led after 2 out, clear when not fluent last, stayed on well, comfortably
led until 1st, led 3rd, headed 6th, lost place next, soon weakened, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 7th, weakened 9th, pulled up after
held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 3 out, chased winner before last, no impression, lost 2nd last stride
tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th until 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, lost place 3rd, headway on outside before 2 out, still only disputing 4th last, stayed on well flat, went 2nd last stride, no impression on winner
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, plugged on before last, no impression
held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway before 2 out, 3rd when mistake last, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division, headway 7th, not fluent 3 out, weakened before last
Forecast has placed over 3m before and could be interesting back up in trip off a low weight. Several of these ran in the Newbury handicap won by the much-improved Vive Le Roi in November. De Name Evades Me finished third but the returning Aux Ptits Soins was the eye-catcher that day and may well come out best this time. Bobo Mac was well beaten at Newbury last time but runner-up to Jersey Bean at the same track before that and the latter found only one too good at Market Rasen subsequently when Southwell second Wotzizname was unplaced. THE EAGLEHASLANDED has steadily been returning to form and is now 3lb lower than when last successful. He has yet to run a bad race here and looks the pick of the weights even though Nautical Nitwit won a Grade 2 last time at Wetherby and his yard remain in terrific form.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden 3 out, led last and sprawled on landing, edged left, ridden and ran on, won at Wetherby 3m (1) gd in Nov beating Old Guard (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Chameron (FR) 5-4fav (11-0) Tracked leader until mistake 2nd, went 2nd after 4th, mistake 7th, lost 2nd next, went 2nd again after 9th, shaken up after 3 out, every chance when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, at Ludlow 2m 4f (3) sft in Dec.
Wotzizname (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, headed 2 out, headed before last, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Crosspark (11-1) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Jersey Bean (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 3rd, challenged and hit 3 out, led next, ridden and headed run-in, eased when held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Aaron Lad (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Aux Ptits Soins (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Held up last, headway under pressure 3 out, plugged on pressing for 3rd run-in, 5th of 12, 11l behind Vive Le Roi (10-13) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Vive Le Roi (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Made all, hit 2 out, 3 lengths clear last, stayed on gamely, unchallenged, won at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Rockpoint (10-3) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Bobo Mac (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Always towards rear, 10th of 12, 27 3/4l behind Vive Le Roi (10-13) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Karezak (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, soon beaten, 8th of 12, 24 3/4l behind Vive Le Roi (10-13) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
The Eaglehaslanded (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out until before last where mistake, no extra flat, 7th of 12, 9 1/2l behind Aaron Lad (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Shalakar (FR) 9-4 (11-10) Led 1st, not fluent 6th or 7th, headed before 3 out, held flat, kept on, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Trans Express (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
De Name Evades Me (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 8th, disputing close 2nd 3 out, ridden before next, 3rd and well held when mistake last, plugged on into 3rd again final strides, 3rd of 12, 10 1/2l behind Vive Le Roi (10-13) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Juge Et Parti (FR) 11-4jfav (10-4) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 8th, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and weakened well before next, 11th of 12, 29 1/2l behind Vive Le Roi (10-13) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Forecast 33-1 (10-6) Always behind, 18th of 21, 25 1/2l behind Mohaayed (11-10) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Lord Du Mesnil (FR) 10-3fav (10-2) Raced keenly, held up in touch on inside, smooth headway to lead before 2 out, headed between last 2, soon ridden, kept on, no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Isaacstown Lad (10-6) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
