looked to be reluctant to race and lost many lengths, well behind until latched on rear of field 5th, weakened after 3 out, eased
held up, headway 5th, ridden before 2 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon bumped and led, awkward and headed last, stayed on, led again towards finish
chased leaders, slightly outpaced before 2 out, rallied flat, stayed on, just held
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, mistake and led last, headed towards finish
held up in rear, ridden 3 out, headway 2 out, never on terms
led until after 1st, chased leader until after 3 out, beaten next
towards rear, jumped left 2nd, in touch 5th, weakened before 3 out
looked to be hampered start and lost many lengths, always tailed off
led after 1st, clear next until 5th, jumped left 2 out, soon bumped rival and headed, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, mistake 3 out, soon one pace and beaten
Tea Clipper will probably start favourite to extend his unbeaten record after a couple of fairly routine wins in novice company. There should be more to come but this will be a more searching test of his abilities. Diamond Gait was out of her depth in the Dawn Run at Cheltenham in March and also on her reappearance at Wetherby but she makes her handicap debut today. Ferrobin is also back in the right grade and Fransham won with a bit in hand at Wetherby and is clearly useful. It’s a while since MAGIC DANCER got his head in front but he was repeatedly denied a run in a bunch finish at Newbury and has been dropped a further 2lb since – he may be the pick of the weights.
Fransham 17-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd going well next, led before dived at last, kept on well run-in, won at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Flegmatik (11-10) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Ferrobin (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up, pushed along and weakened 3 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Not So Sleepy (10-5) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Tea Clipper (IRE) 8-11fav (11-5) Hit 1st, always prominent, led 3 out, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Chasamax (10-12) by 3 3/4l, 10 ran.
Diamond Gait 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 5th of 8, 23 3/4l behind Lady Buttons (11-4) at Wetherby 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Magic Dancer 9-2 (11-4) Chased leading trio, pushed along before 2 out, outpaced last, stayed on well towards finish, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Zanza (11-12) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Havana Hermano (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden 3 out, headway next, not trouble leaders, 5th of 13, 24l behind Highly Prized (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
New Agenda 33-1 (9-7) Led early, prominent, ridden over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, 9th of 14, 10 1/2l behind Lord Halifax (9-1) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Chelsea Flyer (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 9, 36 1/2l behind Haafapiece (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Farmer Boy (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, lost place and in touch 3rd, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 5 3/4l behind Sleep Easy (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f (5) gd in Nov.
Hallings Comet 25-1 (10-6) Led, hit 4th, joined 3 out, ridden and headed turning in, left with every chance last, ridden and no impression with front pair flat, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Benny's Bridge (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Great Hall 7-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased winner before 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 17l behind Ballyellis (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m (5) gd in Nov.
