led, not fluent 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
raced wide tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, wide and headway 3 out, tracked leaders next, ridden to lead last, ran on
tracked leaders, short of room soon after 4 out, ridden and lost place 2 out
towards rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on flat, never nearer
towards rear, headway and in touch 6th, ridden to chase leader 2 out, led bend approaching last, soon headed, kept on one pace
tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed bend approaching last, soon weakened
keen close up, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
in touch, ridden and lost place 3 out
held up in touch,ridden 3 out, stayed on flat, not trouble leaders
Chirico Vallis seems to have found some form again and it would be no surprise to see him in the firing-line again. Trapper Peak rattled up a four-timer before finding another 7lb rise too much at Musselburgh. Havana Hermano won the maiden on this card 12 months ago and has run with credit since so goes on the shortlist but HAAFAPIECE wasn’t winning out of turn at Huntingdon in November and can reverse earlier course and distance running with Trapper Peak, despite worse terms. Poucor is preferred to Raven's Tower of the others.
Chirico Vallis (FR) 13-8fav (12-5) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, still every chance when hit and landed awkwardly next, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Star of Rory (11-6) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Raven's Tower (USA) 7-1 (11-9) Held up in touch on inside, lost place and behind from 6th, lost touch 5 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, 35 1/4l behind Theflyingportrait (11-12) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Haafapiece 8-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, closed from 4th, disputing 2nd 2 out, led before last, stayed on flat, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Ashutor (11-10) by 2l, 9 ran.
Havana Hermano (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, ridden 3 out, headway 2 out, never on terms, 6th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Tea Clipper (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Black Buble (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Towards rear, never on terms, 7th of 18, 12 3/4l behind Champers On Ice (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Sleep Easy 25-1 (10-2) Led to before 3rd, in touch, driven and lost place before 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 30l behind Mack The Man (10-1) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Trapper Peak (IRE) 7-4fav (12-4) Close up, ridden to chase winner 4 out, ridden next, no impression from 2 out, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 11, 12 1/2l behind Im Too Generous (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Poucor 4-1fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, mistake last, weakened flat, 8th of 10, 20 1/4l behind Present From Dubai (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Midnightreflection 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, driven to challenge approaching next, ridden between last 2, no extra before last, weakened flat, 4th of 13, 13 1/2l behind Oriental Cross (11-1) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Ladronne (FR) 28-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, blundered next, outpaced 4 out, stayed on approaching last, no chance with last, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Minella Trump (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
