chased leaders, lost place briefly before 6th, rallied before 3 out, pushed along and one pace in 3rd from 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, soon beaten
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
held up in touch towards rear, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, plugged on in modest 4th before the last, kept on run-in
held up in rear, smooth headway on wide outside tracking leaders 3 out, led on bit 2 out, soon clear, hit last, easily
raced hard on inside, ridden and headed before 2 out, beaten when blundered badly last
raced wide, chased leader, led before 2 out until hit 2 out, soon no chance with winner, kept on for 2nd
held up towards rear, pushed along and outpaced in rear before 3 out, went badly left next and last
raced wide, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up in touch towards rear, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, brief rally on outside when not fluent next, hit last
Allee Bleue has won two of his three starts here and trotted up at Leicester last week, though the heavy going exaggerated winning distances that day. Who Dares Wins never figured in a Grade Three at Ascot last time having won a Listed handicap before that and Alan King also runs the consistent GIBRALFARO. Maybe the five-year-old hasn’t quite scaled the heights once predicted but he was only beaten a length in a competitive race at Newbury when last seen and is only 3lb higher. Protek Des Flos quickly reverts to hurdles after failing to take to fences on his UK debut and Kalondra remains in fine form, though is possibly in the handicapper’s grip now. Work In Progress and Sleepy Haven, others going well, also warrant consideration.
Who Dares Wins (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Mid-division, pushed along towards rear and struggling before 5th, tailed off, 17th of 19, dist behind Brain Power (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Leoncavallo (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, not fluent 4th, every chance 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Gibralfaro (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division on inside, headway approaching 3 out, 2nd after 2 out, every chance last, still challenging after last, no extra and held inside final 150 yards, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Onefitzall (11-3) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Protek Des Flos (FR) 10-3 (10-7) In touch in 4th, mistake 6 out, blundered 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, dist behind Clan Des Obeaux (10-7) at Newbury 2m 4f (1) gs in Nov.
Kalondra (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Patiently ridden and held up in rear, steady headway after 3 out, ridden between last two, disputing modest 3rd last, weakened into 4th run-in, dropped to 5th post, 5th of 13, 9 3/4l behind Modus (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Work In Progress (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) In rear, headway before 7 out, in 4th from 5 out, never dangerous, 4th of 7, 17 1/2l behind Delusionofgrandeur (11-2) at Catterick 3m 1f (3) gs in Dec.
Allee Bleue (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led after 6th, hit normal 3 out, drew well clear before normal 2 out, easily, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Pop Rockstar (11-1) by 26l, 12 ran.
Sleepy Haven (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) In touch, ridden to chase winner before last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Teo Vivo (10-12) at Kelso 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Southport 14-1 (11-0) Led, joined 7th, headed when mistake 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd when not much room before 2 out, weakened quickly soon after, 12th of 15, 23 1/2l behind Doesyourdogbite (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Ossie's Dancer 66-1 (11-10) Mid-division, lost place 4 out, behind from next, soon pulled up, at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
