with leader, every chance before 3 out, ridden and weakened from 2 out
tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish
held up mid-division, headway 3 out, challenged 2 out, kept on to lead towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, led 5th, headed before 2 out, weakened before last
led to 5th, tracked leaders, weakened from 2 out
held up mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along 4 out, lost place before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, weakened before last
NonRunner
It is by no means certain that CAKE DE L’ISLE will stay this longer trip but he wasn’t stopping when second over 2m4f here last time so gets the nod. Recent winners Clondaw Native, Gunfleet and Sir Will all go on the short-list with Emma Lavelle’s Southwell scorer the least exposed of that trio. Another Bill could go well at a price as he’s been eased a little in the weights and has been lightly campaigned this season and a case could also be made for Nautical Nitwit but Southfield Royale, Fingerontheswitch and Dueling Banjos are possibly better over fences nowadays.
Dueling Banjos 10-3 (11-12) In rear, weakening when fell 4 out, at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Clondaw Native (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Chased leader until 5th, 2nd again before 4 out, challenged and slight bump 2 out, switched right last, driven to challenge run-in, stayed on gamely to lead last 100 yards, won at Ascot 2m 6f mdn (3) sft in Dec beating Settie Hill (11-0) by nk, 10 ran.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Always behind, 8th of 13, 29l behind Red Rising (10-11) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Gunfleet (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge last, kept on to lead close home, won at Southwell 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec beating Shannon Bridge (11-4) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Cake de L'Isle (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, virtually upsides next, every chance when not fluent last, kept on, just held, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Value At Risk (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Southfield Royale 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led 5 out, headed next, soon weakened, 4th of 8, dist behind Donna's Diamond (11-1) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Another Bill (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) In rear, mistake 5th, reminder after next, ridden and struggling from 4 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Top Ville Ben (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Join The Clan (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) In touch in mid-division on inside, not fluent 4th, outpaced before 8th, soon behind, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after, at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place after 1st, headway 8th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 9, dist behind King Uther (10-5) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Sir Will (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Made all, hard ridden from 3 out, edged right after 2 out and last, held on gamely, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f mdn (4) hvy in Dec beating Juge Et Parti (11-0) by nk, 6 ran.
