tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed next, no extra last
chased leaders, lost place 11th, behind 7 out, pulled up after 5 out
jumped slowly in rear, pushed along halfway, pulled up before 13th
held up, headway 13th, chased leaders next, weakened 2 out
mid-division, weakened 14th, pulled up 5 out
in touch, weakened 7 out
in rear, blundered 1st and 13th, headway 7 out, weakened after 5 out, pulled up before next
tracked leader, led 2 out, idled closing stages, stayed on well
held up, headway halfway, weakened before 5 out
mid-division, ridden 5 out, headway next, never on terms
led, headed 3 out, no extra approaching last
chased leaders mistake 9th, effort 3 out, stayed on into 3rd before last
in touch, weakened 14th, behind when pulled up 5 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders halfway, weakened 6 out, pulled up after next
Dawson City is seeking a hat-trick in this marathon and races off the same mark as 12 months ago. He ran his best race of the season so far at Ascot last month so warrants respect. Perfect Candidate was rolling back the years at Haydock at the end of last year and is another for the shortlist. Christmas In April beat several of today’s rivals in the Sussex National at Plumpton but couldn’t cope with a 6lb rise at the same track subsequent and BELLE EMPRESS (NAP) can take her revenge today. Emma Lavelle’s mare beat an in-form stayer over this course and distance in December before her third at Plumpton and Ben Jones takes off a valuable 3lb. Easy Wetherby winner Ice Cool Champs also warrants a second look along with the returning St Erney and One Of Us.
Perfect Candidate (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Led until 4th, chased winner, reminder after 13th and 14th, lost 2nd 4 out, no impression on winner from next, gamely took 2nd again after last, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Lord Du Mesnil (11-5) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Dawson City 6-1 (11-10) Led to 5th, with leaders, led 4 out to 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 6, 7 1/4l behind Townshend (12-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
St Erney 16-1 (11-10) Raced wide, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 11th, pushed along to challenge 4 out, narrow lead 2 out, not fluent and headed last, rallied gamely to lead again final 100 yards, won at Exeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Snuff Box (11-8) by nk, 7 ran.
Regal Flow 33-1 (11-0) Led and disputed, hit 11th, headed next, lost 2nd after 14th, weakened before 15th, behind when blundered next and pulled up, at Taunton 3m 4f (2) hvy in Jan.
Vinnie Lewis (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Never fluent, chased leaders, went 2nd 5th until 9th, chased leaders, hit 16th, pushed along before next, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 11, 19l behind Christmas In April (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Ice Cool Champs (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 6 out, led after next, challenged 3 out, drew clear last, stayed on strongly, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Virnon (10-9) by 10l, 10 ran.
Cobolobo (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Badly hampered by faller and nearly unseated rider 1st, behind, jumped slowly 3rd, closer before 17th, ridden and weakened before next, 5th of 10, 36 1/4l behind Copperhead (11-11) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Christmas In April (FR) 4-5fav (11-5) Led and jumped right at times, hit 5th, jumped right and bumped winner 10th, hit 14th, headed 2 out, soon ridden and no chance with winner, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Over To Sam (11-8) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Rathlin Rose (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 13th, went 2nd 3 out until next, stayed on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Christmas In April (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Weststreet (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Towards rear, stayed on from last, never on terms, 6th of 11, 19 3/4l behind Christmas In April (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Indy Five (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Led in start, raced wide, led after 2nd, blundered and reminder 9th, headed approaching 12th, weakened bypassing omitted next, 4th of 8, 30 3/4l behind Django Django (11-12) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Belle Empress 9-2 (11-1) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 13th, blundered next, pushed along before 4 out, 3rd and keeping on when hampered on bend after 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 11, 7l behind Christmas In April (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Billy Bronco 20-1 (11-1) Always behind, tailed off 16th, pulled up before next, at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
One Of Us 13-2 (10-8) Close up, led from 3rd, headed 10th, weakened after 4 out, soon tailed off, 10th of 12, dist behind Worthy Farm (11-4) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
