held up in rear, headway before 3 out, plugged on from next, went 3rd towards finish, never dangerous
with leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon outpaced
held up towards rear, in 5th and well held when unseated rider 2 out
mid-division, headway before 3 out, led before last, kept on well
tracked leaders, ridden to lead 3 out, headed before last, one pace
mid-division, headway before 3 out, every chance 2 out, one pace and lost 3rd place towards finish
led to 2nd, lost place 8th, pulled up
in touch, led before and headed 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up
led from 2nd, headed before 3 out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
The consistent Railway Storm ran very well when third over a longer trip here last month. Kings River got off the mark over 2m4f at Lingfield in November but this will be his first try over 3m, though he's still preferred to stablemate Rocky Bender. Buckhorn Tom is a course and distance winner who only found one too good at Plumpton last month, though he was behind Railway Storm on his reappearance. Gallic Warrior and Bredon Hill Lad have place claims again but LONG JOHN (NAP) loves heavy going and is fancied to make light of a step up in distance and 7lb higher mark after scoring convincingly over 2m5f here just over two weeks ago.
Long John 10-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, slow 7th, headway 5 out, soon tracking leader, led 4 out, mistake next, stayed on strongly, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Red Riverman (11-11) by 12l, 6 ran.
Buckhorn Tom 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd well before 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Leg Iron (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Gallic Warrior (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 10th, went 2nd 12th, no impression on winner 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Truckers Highway (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Rocky Bender (IRE) 5-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, fell 6th, at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Somerset Lias (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 4 out, blundered 3 out, 6th of 10, 16 1/4l behind Sandy Beach (10-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Bredon Hill Lad Evensfav (12-1) Tracked leading pair until 6th, 3rd again 10th, 2nd 4 out, pushed along before next, no impression next, 2nd of 4, 17l behind Cheat The Cheater (10-6) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Railway Storm (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, led 3rd until 10th, chased leader until led again 15th until headed 2 out, chased winner until one pace into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Woodford County (11-12) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Kings River (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Tracked leading pair, pecked 10th, 2nd from 4 out, challenged next, led last, ridden and came readily clear run-in, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Halo Moon (11-7) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Somerby (IRE) 15-2 (10-0) Held up mid-division, lost place before 8th, headway before 5 out, ridden before 4 out, in 4th from 2 out, no impression, 4th of 9, 17 1/4l behind Leith Hill Legasi (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Mostly Bob (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Led, already headed when blundered and rider lost iron briefly 13th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, 25 1/2l behind Bus Named Desire (11-9) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
