held up in mid-division on inside, pushed along after 4 out, headway chasing leaders after next, hung right and weakened after 2 out
chased leaders, led 2 out, headed last, stayed on
raced wide in mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, headway chasing leaders and hung right approaching 2 out, went 3rd between last 2, kept on well towards finish
raced keenly, led until 2nd, chased winner until after 4th, 2nd again next, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and no extra between last 2
chased leaders, tracked leader after 4th until mistake 4 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, well behind when blundered 2 out, tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along in mid-division after 3 out, ridden on outside chasing leaders before next where mistake, weakened between last 2, mistake last
always towards rear, never on terms
always towards rear, ridden and struggling after 4 out, never a factor
raced keenly, chased leader, mistake 1st, led next, narrowly headed 2 out, led again narrowly and hit last, ridden out
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 3 out, travelling well before next, ridden and outpaced between last 2, plugged on in 4th from last
raced wide and never nearer than mid-division, behind 3 out, tailed off before next
well behind, lost touch after 4th, never involved
Mabela, a consistent servant to the Skelton team, probably landed the spoils rather more comfortably than the winning distance suggests last time. The drop back to 2m should not prove an issue and she seems sure to be in the mix for just a 3lb rise. HOMER is intriguing as the sole 4-y-o in the contest and should be competitive on this better ground and with Joe Anderson taking a massive 10lb off his back. The gelding does lack experience but is a risk worth taking on these terms. Notre Ami can get involved but it's Fair Kate who could rate the main danger to the selection after outpointing the useful Vienna Court in a Newbury handicap in December.
Dogon 10-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, not trouble leaders, weakened flat, 5th of 10, 15l behind Hijack (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Vision Clear (GER) 20-1 (11-0) Held up in 5th, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, 11 3/4l behind Flashing Glance (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Yaa Salaam (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway on inside chasing leaders 4th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 11, 26 1/4l behind Gunnery (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Fair Kate 8-1 (10-10) Raced on inside, chased leader, led 3 out, ridden when joined last, driven and stayed on run-in, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Vienna Court (11-11) by nk, 12 ran.
Notre Ami (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Close up, led 4th, headed 3 out, every chance last, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Dostal Phil (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Garbanzo (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 13th of 20, 29l behind Mahler's Promise (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Mabela 5-1 (11-0) Keen raced wide, close up, headway 2 out, led next, ridden out, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Runasimi River (11-0) by nk, 8 ran.
Playa Blanca (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway on outside after 3 out, close up when blundered 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 19 1/4l behind Maypole Class (11-11) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Homer (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, went 3rd after 4th, pushed along after 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 5, 24 1/2l behind Goshen (11-8) at Ascot 2m (3) hvy in Jan.
Mount Windsor (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Held up off the pace towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders before 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 11, 21l behind Lightly Squeeze (12-3) at Plumpton 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Graceful James (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, driven after 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 16, 24 3/4l behind Dorking Boy (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Horatio Star 20-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, tailed off, 8th of 11, dist behind Buzz (11-5) at Taunton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
