tracked leaders, went 2nd and every chance 2 out, held last, driven and kept on same pace run-in
mid-division, not fluent 5th, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along in close 2nd when bumped and hampered 3 out, lost 2nd and hit next, ridden and one pace in 3rd before the last, kept on run-in
took keen hold, always behind, mistake and pushed along 6th, tailed off when mistake next
held up in rear, pushed along on inside before 3 out, ridden and no impression in 7th next
tracked leader, hit 3rd, settled into 3rd place on long run before 4th, pushed along and no impression in 5th 3 out, left modest 4th and hampered last
always towards rear, never involved
held up in 7th, pushed along before 3 out, no real headway
led until pushed along and headed approaching 3 out, dropped to 4th before next, awkward 2 out, ridden and beaten when blundered badly all but fell and gave rider no chance last
always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off
took keen hold, went 2nd on long run before 4th, led approaching and jumped left 3 out, urged along and in command last, ridden out
NonRunner
Paddys Runner is proving hard to win with but Rocklander has had no problems in that area and arrives on a hat-trick, though steps up a grade off a 7lb higher mark. Wolftrap ground out another victory at Ludlow but doesn’t appeal as the type to defy a further 6lb rise and has not sparkled around here in the past. What A Scorcher appears in the handicapper’s grip but Lord Of The Island returned from a break to win a shade cosily at Towcester and is still unexposed. Trans Express was well beaten when second at Sandown but the winner went in again earlier this week and he’s receiving weight all round. SPACE ODDITY is sure to have benefited from his fourth at Fontwell and looked a promising sort last season. He could be the value in a wide-open handicap.
Rocklander (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, 2nd 6th, normal 3 out, ridden to lead before bypassing omitted last, driven out, won at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Peruvien Bleu (11-8) by 2l, 14 ran.
Paddys Runner 9-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th or 6th, challenged 4 out, outpaced before next, soon well held, 8th of 9, 22 1/2l behind Byron Flyer (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Lord Of The Island (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway going well from 7th, led before 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Towcester 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Movie Legend (10-12) by 5l, 11 ran.
Akavit (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Ridden to lead, not fluent and headed 7th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Wolftrap (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway after 4 out,2nd before 3 out, led approaching 2 out, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Another Frontier (11-12) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Space Oddity (FR) 7-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders on outside, stumbled after 3rd, disputed lead after 5th, ridden and lost place between last 2, no impression after, 4th of 8, 18 1/2l behind Remiluc (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
What A Scorcher 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leader until before 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 6, dist behind Midnight Tour (11-11) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Lithic (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 11, 25l behind Reigning Supreme (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f (3) sft in Nov.
Becauseshesaidso (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened run-in, 4th of 10, 9 3/4l behind At The Doubble (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
Auenwirbel (GER) 14-1 (11-8) Chased clear leader, closed after 2nd, lost 2nd before next, chased leaders, weakened 6th, soon behind, 12th of 14, 35 1/4l behind Clic Work (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Trans Express (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Held up in mid-division, pecked 3rd, headway when mistake and ridden 2 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on under pressure into 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Limited Reserve (10-5) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Darwins Theory (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Took keen hold, held up and raced wide, headway tracking leaders 4th, 3rd on long run before 2 out, ridden and no impression soon after 2 out, mistake and stumbled last, 3rd of 7, 19 1/2l behind Billy No Name (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
