tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, drew well clear approaching last, comfortably
led, ridden after 5th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
never fluent, always behind, tailed off
chased leaders until weakened after 5th, tailed off
struggling 3rd, always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway into 4th after 5th, mistake next, soon ridden and weakened
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner from 3 out, kept on for clear 2nd, no chance from last
mid-division, reminders after 2nd, plugged on to go modest 3rd after 2 out, no chance with leading pair
tracked leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened quickly and pulled up before next
Nonrunner
Not too many merit serious consideration and the field can quickly be whittled down to Silk Drum, MOTARID and Ovthenight. Silk Drum is the one to beat and is likely to start at cramped odds with his yard continuing in good form. He has two wide margin wins to his name as well as a narrow defeat in a Listed hurdle at Wetherby and has few holes in his armoury. Ovthenight was rather disappointing at Wetherby and can't be fancied on that evidence which leaves Motarid as the only viable alternative to the jolly. He made a satisfactory debut on heavy ground at Hexham and stepped up on that form when going down narrowly to West With The Wind over course and distance. The winner has won again since and the form looks pretty solid so it may be worth taking the chance that Motarid can take advantage of the weight that he receives.
Silk Drum (IRE) 3-10fav (11-5) Made all, drew clear from 2 out, unextended, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating We're Delighted (10-12) by 27l, 5 ran.
Cherokee Star 80-1 (11-2) Prominent when went left 1st, struggling 4th, soon behind, last of 15, well behind Simarian (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Capeleira (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Soon in rear, tailed off from 6th, 9th of 11, well behind Art Exhibition (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Captain Mainwaring 100-1 (10-12) Led to 3rd, regained lead next, came wide into straight, soon headed and weakened, 7th of 13, 22l behind Ronaldo Des Mottes (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) gs.
Chesapeake Bay 14-1 (10-5) Towards rear, some headway in 9th before 3 out, ridden and no impression 3 out, 11th of 16, 33l behind The Fist Of God (10-12) at Down Royal 2m 3yo mdn hdl sft in Oct.
Manshoor (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, in touch, chased winner 6th until ridden and weakened quickly approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Cherokee Star (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Oct, 11 ran.
Motarid (USA) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 4 out, chased winner and hit 2 out, stayed on towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 16, hd behind West With The Wind (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Ovthenight (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced 5th, no impression from 3 out, 4th of 14, 18l behind Banquet (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Time To Play 80-1 (10-7) Always in rear, ridden and struggling 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Starluck (11-8) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Dec.
Baileys Benchmark 150-1 (10-4) Held up in touch, weakened 2 out, 6th of 10, 25l behind Pemberton (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Seven Stars 80-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon beaten, 8th of 16, 28l behind West With The Wind (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
World of Choice (USA) 10-1 (8-4) Towards rear, soon chased along, never troubled leaders, 5th of 7, 8l behind Mrs Bun (8-11) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs (Flat).
