led in and went left start, took keen hold, held up 4th and last, headway to lead briefly 4th, tracked leader, effort 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, no chance with leading pair flat
disputed 2nd to 4th, tracked leaders, ridden and effort after 3 out, outpaced next, 4th and no extra when not fluent last
led, jinked right 2nd, headed briefly 4th, driven 3 out, narrow advantage when not fluent last, ridden and headed flat, no extra
disputed 2nd to 4th, remained in touch, driven 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd between last 2, led flat, kept on
Salontyre races from 17lb out of the handicap and looks to be facing a hopeless task but there are possibilities about Ciceron, who ran his best race of the season so far when fifth to Tocca Ferro at Newbury last month. But the one to beat is surely SANCTUAIRE, who finished a long way in front of Causeway King when successful in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival in March and still looked to be travelling strongly when coming to grief in a hugely competitive handicap at the same track on his reappearance. Alan King's gelding is much better off at the weights today but is coming back after a long lay-off.
Sanctuaire (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Raced wide, held up in rear, 8th and no chance when fell heavily 2 out, in a race won by Menorah (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov, 17 ran.
Ciceron (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened between last 2, 5th of 12, 19l behind Tocca Ferro (10-13) at Newbury 2m Listed hcap hdle (1) gs in Nov.
Causeway King (USA) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-divsion, never made any headway, well beaten after 2 out, 18th of 24, 39l behind Sanctuaire (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Salontyre (GER) 9-1 (10-1) In rear, headway 6th, mistake next, ridden and outpaced after 8th, rallied approaching 2 out, 4th of 8, 28l behind Kilcrea Kim (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
