mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, not fluent 3 out, no extra before last
prominent, led 6th, headed 2 out, no extra before last
held up in mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led after 3rd, headed before next, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, closed after 3rd, lost place from 7th, well beaten 3 out
towards rear, headway after 7th, ridden and weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, challenged 4th, every chance 3 out, no extra 2 out
prominent, led before 4th, mistake and headed 6th, weakened after next
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led next, clear when mistake last, stayed on
led until after 3rd, prominent, every chance when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway after 7th, every chance when hit 2 out, held last, stayed on
in touch, close up 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd and held last, no extra flat
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, never going well after, tailed off 7th, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway on inside 7th, lost place before 3 out, tailed off
towards rear, ridden and well beaten after 7th, tailed off
mid-division on outside, lost place before 4th, headway 2 out, no impression on leaders
in rear, mistake 5th, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off
always towards rear
A big field in this finale but the shortlist is not extensive. Cold Shoulder could figure if wind surgery has had the desired effect and Dan Gun was better at Stratford in November. Alkopop has been racing over longer trips but is very lightly raced. The Darley Lama is 0-12 but has been well supported in both starts so far for Richard Newland. RICHARDSON has gone up 12lb for beating an in-form rival at Uttoxeter but conditions won’t be a problem and he’s fancied to double his tally. No Quarter Asked is another entitled to be thereabouts if forgiven a below-par effort at Fakenham earlier this month.
Goodgirlteresa (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Midfield, chased leaders 2nd, ridden after 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 10th of 17, 36 1/4l behind Amzac Magic (11-2) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
No Quarter Asked (IRE) 11-2 (10-1) Chased leaders on inside, ridden and weakened home turn, 4th of 7, 15 1/2l behind Not A Role Model (11-10) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Kentford Mallard 14-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway into midfield 5th, ridden and no impression from 2 out, 7th of 13, 9 1/2l behind Infiniti (10-1) at Leicester 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Tea Time Fred 14-1 (11-5) Mid-division, took closer order 7th, pushed along 3 out, fading when pulled up before last, at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Cold Shoulder 17-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along and hard ridden at halfway, soon struggling, weakened from over 2 out (usual 3 out), never on terms, 8th of 14, 32 1/4l behind Classic Tune (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Richardson 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, towards rear 3rd, closer and tracked leader after 4 out, made challenge approaching last, 2-lengths down and disputing 2nd last, soon ridden and kept on strongly run-in, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Dec beating Knocknamona (10-8) by 3 3/4l, 15 ran.
Eglantier (FR) 18-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and headway 3 out, plugged on, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 14, 20 1/2l behind Loughermore (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Kingsmill Gin 50-1 (11-4) Prominent and disputed the lead, ridden and headed after 3 out, stayed on strongly to take 4th closing stages, 4th of 17, 7 1/2l behind Kestrel Valley (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Alkopop (GER) 17-2 (11-2) Held up, slightly hampered 4 out, headway before next, 3rd and held from 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Alka Step (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
The Darley Lama (IRE) 16-5fav (11-7) Ridden handy, restrained into midfield 2nd, headway travelling strongly before 3 out where ridden, not fluent 2 out, one pace from before last, 3rd of 12, 14 3/4l behind Freddy Fanatapan (11-10) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Ring The Moon 40-1 (11-1) Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden 2 out(usual 4 out), soon weakened, fell last, at Ffos Las 3m hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
Maliboo (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway to join leading group 3 out, soon ridden and weakened quickly before 2 out, 13th of 17, dist behind Kestrel Valley (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Seasearch 100-1 (10-8) Mid-division, dropped to rear and pushed along after 4th, never nearer, 11th of 17, 36 1/4l behind Chinwag (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Dan Gun (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Midfield, headway into fourth before last where moved into third, kept on in closing stages, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Cremant (11-12) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Just In A Muddle (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 7th, headed 4 out, weakened after next, 3rd of 6, 34l behind Iconic Muddle (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) hvy in Mar.
Harry Haze 14-1 (10-4) Midfield, steady headway to chase leaders 4 out, outpaced 2 out, kept on before last but did not trouble leaders, 5th of 12, 6l behind Mr Washington (11-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Iron Port (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, behind 5th, stayed on steadily from 3 out, never nearer, 7th of 15, 24 1/4l behind After The Fox (11-2) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Notnownotnever (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Always behind, 10th of 15, dist behind After The Fox (11-2) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
