prominent, lost place 12th, soon behind, mistake 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden 12th, mistake 4 out, no headway
jumped right, led 2nd, headed 8th, every chance 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, struggling 8th, mistake 10th and 11th, pulled up after
held up in rear, mistake and unseated rider 3rd
chased leaders, not fluent 13th, outpaced 4 out, weakened before 2 out
mid-division on inside, closed 12th, challenged before 2 out, led last, hung left, bumped and headed flat, held towards finish
in rear, mistake and jockey unbalanced briefly 10th, headway after 3 out, 4th and no impression from 2 out, kept on
tracked leaders, mistake 8th, ridden and outpaced after 13th, weakened from 3 out
led until 2nd, prominent, led 8th, dived at 11th, headed last, bumped and led again flat, stayed on well
always towards rear, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, blundered 11th, ridden after 3 out, 5th and no impression 2 out
in touch in mid-division on outside, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway after 4 out, no impression in 6th 2 out
in touch behind leaders, mistake 10th, held in 3rd 2 out, kept on
held up in mid-division, headway after 3 out, no impression on 7th 2 out
NonRunner
A wide-open premier handicap with a host of chances but IL RIDOTO has proved himself competitive in these tough good-quality contests around here, having finished a good fourth in both this season's Paddy Power Gold Cup and the New Year's Day Premier Handicap Chase. He's actually been dropped a couple of pounds since the Paddy Power Gold Cup run and looks attractively treated off 10-12. Coole Cody has a fine course record but has never won off this high a mark and there are some progressive types who make greater appeal, namely Fugitif, Karl Philippe and Now Where Or When who are preferred in that order. Ben Pauling has enjoyed a top-notch season to date and he too has a realistic contender in the well-weighted Your Darling, sure to prove suited to this drop in trip.
Brave Seasca (FR) 17-2 (12-0) Held up in rear, mistake 13th, well beaten from 3 out, 11th of 16, 21 3/4l behind Midnight River (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Allmankind 33-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, raced keenly, never in contention, 11th of 12, dist behind Fugitif (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Coole Cody (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Chased winner, hit 4th, lost 2nd before next, lost place after 7th, weakened before 12th, tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Pic D'Orhy (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Caribean Boy (FR) 17-2 (11-4) Handy, pushed along home turn, well held from 4 out and weakened, 5th of 10, 20 1/2l behind Farinet (10-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Simply The Betts (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place 8th, well held from 3 out, 9th of 16, 20 1/2l behind Midnight River (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Karl Philippe (FR) 5-2 (12-1) Midfield, blundered 12th, pushed along before 3 out, went second approaching last, stayed on well flat, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind The Paddy Pie (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Fugitif (FR) 6-1 (10-7) Mid-division, smooth headway into 3rd 5 out, shaken up and led 4 out, soon forged on and went clear 2 out, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Golden Whisky (10-2) by 5l, 12 ran.
Phoenix Way (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Towards rear, shaken up and headway 5 out, ridden in 4th 3 out, kept on, no impression, 4th of 12, 12l behind Fugitif (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Silver Hallmark 9-1 (11-1) Prominent, pressed leader after 11th, ridden after 5 out, stayed on until no extra from 2 out, 3rd of 12, 7 1/4l behind Fugitif (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Il Ridoto (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Handy on inside, lost place before 3 out, switched right and closed before 2 out, 2nd when jumped left last, weakened flat, 4th of 16, 8l behind Midnight River (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division on inside, well in touch when mistake 4 out, shaken up after 3 out, no impression from 2 out, weakened flat, 7th of 11, 15l behind Rapper (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Nocte Volatus 4-1 (11-6) Prominent, led 3rd, headed 7th, led again 2 out(normal 3 out) not fluent next, driven and headed turning in, no extra close home, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Equus Dancer (11-2) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Your Darling (IRE) 10-3fav (11-2) Mid-division, switched out wide before 13th, outpaced after 4 out, rallied from next, stayed on run-in but never going pace to reach leaders, lost 4th post, 5th of 14, 9 1/4l behind Remastered (12-1) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
One True King (IRE) 17-2 (12-1) Held up on inner, pushed along and weakened from 5 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Laskalin (11-12) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Precious Eleanor (FR) 9-1 (12-0) Jumped left, raced wide in close 3rd, went 2nd 7th, every chance when went left 3 out, lost 2nd approaching 2 out, weakened and went left last, 3rd of 8, 20 1/2l behind Certainly Red (11-11) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Guy (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear on inside, closed 3rd, not fluent 8th, chased winner 2 out until after last, no extra, 3rd of 9, 5 3/4l behind Bobhopeornohope (12-0) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Now Where Or When (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Disputed lead early, mistake at 1st, led from 2nd and made rest, mistake 4th, ridden 3 out, strongly pressed next, stayed on well under pressure run-in, all out close home, won at Down Royal 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov beating The Greek (11-2) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
