held up, effort when mistake and slightly hampered 3 out, no impression on winner next, kept on, just lost out in duel for 2nd
held up, not fluent 5th, effort 3 out, no impression on winner next, kept on, just prevailed in duel for 2nd
chased winner, not fluent 5th, 3 lengths down when fell 3 out
held up in rear, pulled hard, mistake 2nd, not fluent 4th, hampered 3 out, soon switched right, modest 4th next
made all, clear approaching 2 out, unchallenged
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, hampered 3 out, soon weakened
NonRunner
NonRunner
Cosmeapolitan has been lightly raced over hurdles but did win in 2016. However, Alan King also runs Harefield, who didn’t handle heavy going at Sandown on his reappearance and was pulled up. He was second to the useful Delire d’Estruval at Towcester last season and won at Warwick and a reproduction of that form would put him in the firing-line. Haafapiece fell in that Sandown race but may have been placed had he stood up so can’t be ignored. Mister Universum is only a pound higher than when last successful so also warrants respect but SHIROCCAN ROLL came up against a subsequent winner at Wincanton and is feasibly handicapped so gets the nod.
Cosmeapolitan 7-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Caspar The Cub (8-10) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Mister Universum (GER) 14-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, every chance next, one pace and held in 4th flat, 4th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Snapdragon Fire (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Harefield (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, well beaten after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Sandown 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Haafapiece 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, effort before 3 out, disputing 2nd when blundered 2 out, no impression on winner, fell last, at Sandown 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Chieftain's Choice (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, kept on, no extra close home, 7th of 16, 5 3/4l behind Storm Rising (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Shine Baby Shine 33-1 (10-6) Jumped slowly 1st, held up towards rear, headway on outside into mid-division 5th, dropped to last pair when jumped slowly 7th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Shiroccan Roll 9-4 (11-4) Sweating, raced keenly, chased leaders, led 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Grand Sancy (11-8) at Wincanton 1m 7f (3) gd in Nov.
Furiously Fast (IRE) 20-1 (12-3) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led 2 out, soon headed, beaten before last, 5th of 9, at Hereford 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
