chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, no impression, well held from 2 out
tracked leader until after 7th, lost place before 3 out, plugged on flat, went 4th towards finish
chased leaders, went 2nd after 7th, challenged 3 out, soon led, wandered about after 2 out, clear flat, easily
led, mistake 3 out, soon headed, lost 2nd before last, weakened flat, lost 4th towards finish
not always fluent, in touch in mid-division on outside, struggling from 7th, well beaten 3 out
in touch in mid-division, 5th 3 out, soon pulled up
towards rear, pushed along before 4th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
jumped right in rear, ridden 6th, behind next, pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, in touch 3 out, went 3rd last, no impression
held up towards rear, steady headway from 6th, switched right after 2 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner
Pipesmoker did win at Lingfield two runs ago but failed to follow that up in a handicap at Huntingdon. Ted's Friend won at Plumpton stepped up in trip and Le Chiffre D'Or was successful twice at Hereford last month but has to give 4lb to the four-year-old SURREY QUEST, who beat the odds-on Reilly at Leicester despite still showing signs of inexperience. Arizona Cardinal, Latitude and Luke are others to consider in a potentially-informative contest.
Le Chiffre D'or (FR) 2-11fav (11-5) Made all, drew clear after 2 out, not fluent last, very easily, won at Hereford 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov beating If I Say (10-4) by 11l, 6 ran.
Pipesmoker (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leader and pushed along early, disputed lead after 1st, led after 3rd, headed 4th and pushed along, ridden under 3 out, left behind over 2 out, 4th of 7, 19 1/4l behind Restandbethankful (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Surrey Quest (IRE) 11-4 (10-11) Held up behind leaders, shaken up in 3rd before 2 out, ridden and switched right after 2 out, pressed leader final flight, led run-in and asserted towards finish, won at Leicester 2m 4f (3) gs in Nov beating Reilly (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 3 ran.
Ted's Friend (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Made all, not fluent and jumped right 8th, hit 4 out, pushed along 2 out, ran on well after last, won at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov beating Next Left (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Ailes D'amour (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Mid-division, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, 5th of 17, 24 3/4l behind Picanha (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Arizona Cardinal 25-1 (11-4) Chased leader, led 4 out until pushed along before 2 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd 2 out, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 17, 3 3/4l behind Picanha (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
C'Mon Sharpy (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) In rear, not fluent 1st, ridden and behind after 5th, tailed off 7th, pulled up before 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Dreams Of Gold Goldmark gelding out of Song Of Kenda.
Luke 28-1 (10-12) In rear, pushed and making headway when short of room turning for home, went 3rd before last, stayed on well, promising, 3rd of 13, 5 1/4l behind Captain Quint (10-12) at Hexham 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Mumbo Jumbo (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway 2 out, ridden and stayed on run in, 4th of 14, 10l behind Guerlain De Vaux (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Idols's Eye (FR) 22-1 (10-12) Chased leader, led chasing group behind clear leader 4th, led before 7th, headed 8th, weakened quickly after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Southwell 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
Latitude (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Prominent early, chased leaders, hung right over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out, 5th of 8, 11l behind Gentle River (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (5) gs in Oct.
