pulled hard, chased winner until mistake 3rd, weakened after 5th
mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out
in rear, mistake 3rd, lost touch 5th
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, took remote 3rd approaching last
mid-division, mistake 4th, some headway 4 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out
chased leaders, went 3rd 3 out, saddle slipped and unseated rider bend over 2 out
keen, made all, clear halfway, unchallenged
prominent, chased winner 4 out, kept on, no chance with winner
chased winner 3rd till 4 out, ridden and soon weakened
held up in last place, headway to go 3rd 2 out, weakened approaching last
William John gets the confident vote in the finale with Doctor David and He's A Star rating the main dangers. The selection was a good second behind Neptune Joy last time out, that form has since been franked and under similar conditions here he is hard to oppose. Doctor David rates the main danger on his latest fifth behind Poquelin, this looks easier and he should be watched in the market. He's A Star is another that could go well on his best form but the susopicion is he may just need the run after a 470 day abscence. Of the remainder Dariak is from a shrewd yard and is worth a cautionary look in the market but for the winner we return to William John who sets a fair standard and will be hard to beat.
Carlburg (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, pulled hard, always in rear, last of 13, 20l behind Owners Biscuits (8-9) at Kempton 1m banded stk (7) pol in Nov (Flat).
Clevermansam 100-1 (11-4) Always behind, last of 14, 48l behind King of The Jungle (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (5) gs.
He's A Star 8-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden when hit 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 14, 14l behind Caribou (10-12) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) sft in Dec '05.
Royal Sailor (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 4th, hampered 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 33l behind Viscount Rossini (11-5) at Leicester 2m nov clm hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Ski Jump (USA) 25-1 (8-0) Keen, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, edged right and stayed on final furlong, 4th of 31, 3 1/2l behind Detroit City (9-1) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcap (2) gs in Oct (Flat).
Dariak (FR) 33-1 (10-9) Led, joined 4th, headed and weakened before 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Lounaos (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Doctor David 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, soon ridden and weakened after next, 5th of 13, 16l behind Poquelin (10-12) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
William John 6-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, 5 lengths clear last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Neptune Joly (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
