raced keenly, led, headed after 2nd, chased leader until led before 2 out, came clear from 2 out, impressive
pulled hard, prominent, hit 1st, led after 2nd, headed and weakened quickly approaching 2 out
held up, steady headway into midfield after 3 out, tired when mistake 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, dropped to midfield before next, pushed along before 3 out, soon faded, pulled up before next
mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, made no impression
towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, lost place before 5th, nudged along approaching next, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
midfield, bumped 3rd, went third before 5th, headway into second after 3 out, soon pushed along, lost second before 2 out, soon ridden, no extra approaching last
midfield, headway after 3 out, went second before 2 out, kept on but no match for winner
mid-division, headway into midfield before 3 out, well held when slow 2 out
The Pipe pair Kolisi and Titian won on the Flat and were both highly tried on their respective hurdling debuts so could be capable of better. Rewired also won on the level as did Restitution, who is already proven over 2m. Ilico Des Places won in the French Provinces in May but August’s Dieppe winner ICEO makes most appeal of the two imports having teamed up with Paul Nicholls.
Iceo (FR) (10-5) won at Dieppe 2m 1f sft in Aug beating Masked Dream (10-5) by 5 1/2l, 11 ran.
Illico Des Places (FR) (10-6) won at Chateaubriant 2m 2f hvy in May.
Dragon's Fire 12-1 (9-7) Close up, pushed along 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 13, 4 1/4l behind G'daay (9-5) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Elusive Artist (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden and chased leader before last, weakened after last, 6th of 10, 12l behind Interne De Sivola (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) gs in Dec.
Fight For It (IRE) 5-2 (9-4) Mid-division, tracked leaders, pushed along before 3f out in third, one pace from 2f out, 3rd of 4, 4 1/4l behind Harlem Soul (9-6) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Kolisi (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, tracked leader until 4th, chased leaders, weakened quickly after 3 out, tailed off when blundered badly next, pulled up before last, at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) gs in Dec.
Optimistic Belief (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Raced keenly in rear, pushed along before 2 out, headway run-in, never near to challenge, 5th of 9, 31 3/4l behind Forever Blessed (11-5) at Sandown 2m (2) gs in Dec.
Restitution (FR) 5-2fav (9-8) Bumped start, prominent early, chased leaders, closed on outside 8f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, 3rd and still pressing but looking held when hampered inside final furlong, no impression after, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Lion Face (8-13) at Kempton 2m hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Rewired 5-1 (9-10) Raced keenly towards rear, headway on inside 2f out, switched sharply right over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 4 1/2l behind The Nu Form Way (8-9) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Titian (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Fell 1st in rear, at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) gs in Dec.
