mid-division, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, hung right from before 2 out, ridden between last 2, weakened before last
held up in mid-division, closer chasing leaders 3 out, went 2nd and challenged 2 out, ridden to lead run-in, headed and no extra final 100 yards
mid-division on inside, outpaced before 2 out, no danger after
chased leaders on outside, challenged 2 out, ridden between last 2, weakened before last
led, joined 2 out, joined and mistake last, ridden and narrowly headed run-in, rallied gamely to lead again last 100 yards
always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off
raced keenly, chased winner until pushed along after 3 out, weakened rapidly with rider looking down, behind when blundered 2 out, virtually pulled up
held up towards rear, headway when not fluent 2 out, ridden and wandered between last 2, stayed on same pace in 4th run-in
raced keenly in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3 out, hung right before next, 3rd and one pace before last
soon chasing leaders and wide, ridden and weakened after 2 out
chased leaders, weakened soon after 3 out
always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off
last pair, never a factor, tailed off
mid-division on inside, pushed along after 3 out, outpaced approaching next, plugged on towards finish
chased leaders on inside, weakened run-in
towards rear, bit closer in mid-division 6th, outpaced before 3 out, no threat after
Bookmakers will be delighted to see things get under way with a 17-runner handicap. It looks wide-open with Palmers Hill interesting, despite a lengthy absence. Larkbarrow Lad finished a respectable fifth in the Lanzarote over track and trip six weeks ago. Storm Arising has been raised a couple of pounds since his third at Wincanton but is definitely one for the shortlist. Marlborough Sounds and Polish were both impressive winners last time and are unexposed in handicap company. The consistent Earth Moor is a big ride for amateur Tom Doggrell and Howling Milan would surely have won at Newbury in December had he not fallen at the last. Our Power may be running into form and Top Man catches the eye near the foot of the weights but something was clearly amiss with DOWNTOWN GETAWAY on his reappearance. Highly regarded as a novice, he’s undergone wind surgery recently and has the ability to win a race like this if that has cured his problems.
No Hidden Charges (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outside, weakened before 2 out, 13th of 18, 31 3/4l behind Champers On Ice (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Larkbarrow Lad 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division on outside, mistake 5th, weakened after 3 out,, 5th of 13, 15l behind Burrows Edge (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Palmers Hill (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, headway on outside 3 out, close up when hit next, challenged approaching last, ridden to lead flat, asserted towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Unblinking (10-6) by 1 1/4l, 23 ran.
Marlborough Sounds 10-3 (11-7) Raced on inside, tracked leader, led before 2 out, clear before last, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Aiguille Rouge (11-3) by 8 1/2l, 5 ran.
Storm Arising (IRE) 5-2jfav (10-10) Tracked leader, led narrowly after 3 out, ridden between last 2, headed narrowly last, kept on flat, 3rd and held near finish, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Third Wind (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Downtown Getaway (IRE) 15-8fav (10-7) Chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, behind and pulled up before 3 out, at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Eclat Des Mottes (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Led, a little slow at 1st and briefly headed, pecked 7th, slight mistake 8th and headed briefly, joined from 4 out, headed before straight, weakened and jumped left last 2, last of 4, dist behind Minella Fair (11-12) at Limerick 2m 6f hvy in Oct.
Howling Milan (IRE) 6-1 (10-4) Led, ridden and clear between last 2, 3 lengths ahead going strongly when fell last, at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Polish 6-5fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, effort after next, led narrowly after 2 out, edged left, mistake last, soon ridden, kept on towards finish, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Feb beating Dagueneau (11-4) by 2l, 14 ran.
Our Power (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders before next, kept on same pace in 3rd at the last, 3rd of 16, 11 3/4l behind Honest Vic (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Earth Moor (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Mid-division, tracked leaders after 3rd, ridden after last, kept on, 2nd of 11, 6 1/2l behind Espoir De Romay (12-0) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Misty Bloom (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, effort before 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 11, 10 1/2l behind Espoir De Romay (12-0) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Kuiper Belt (USA) 150-1 (11-12) Towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, dist behind Espoir De Romay (12-0) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Roseriver Has (FR) 33-1 (8-4) Pushed along briefly early, mid-division, 8th approaching halfway, pushed along again under 4f out, weakened 2f out, last of 17, dist behind Melburnian (8-5) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Midnightreferendum 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway when not clear run and switched left before last, went 3rd flat, stayed on, no impression, 3rd of 16, 9 1/2l behind Dame De Compagnie (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Top Man (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Raced keenly, chased leaders, pushed along and one pace in 3rd before 2 out where went left, 3rd of 10, 6 1/2l behind Cat Tiger (11-8) at Plumpton 2m 5f (3) sft in Jan.
Twenty Twenty (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd 4th, led after 3 out, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Sermando (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
