led, hit 3rd, ridden after 3 out, narrow advantage last, stayed on strongly flat
tracked leader, relegated to midfield when not fluent 4th, ridden after 4 out, lost touch 3 out, tailed off before 2 out
keen behind leader, ridden and close up 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on but could not match winner
mid-division, ridden and lost touch with leaders 3 out, no extra
raced wide in rear, slow jump 1st, driven before 3 out, plugged on but well beaten from 2 out
towards rear, ridden and lost touch before 4 out, tailed off soon after, pulled up before 3 out
Paricolor has won twice over 2m in this grade over course and distance recently but he faces better quality opposition today and is conceding weight all round so a hat-trick may be beyond him. Perfect Man is quickly back over hurdles after a brief sojourn over fences but he needs further and, ideally, better ground. Mr Caffrey reverted to hurdles with a victory at Taunton but is another tackling better opposition today. By comparison, SAKHEE'S CITY is eased in grade after a couple of runs in handicaps at Wetherby. On last season’s form he would be a shoe-in at the weights and, despite not really firing at present, the application of blinkers and Joe Williamson’s claim can help him gain a morale-boosting victory. Wicked Willy continues to disappoint.
Perfect Man (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up, in rear and ridden 3 out, lost touch 2 out, well adrift before last, plugged on flat, 4th of 5, 21 1/2l behind Mighty Thunder (11-6) at Hexham 3m (4) sft in Nov.
Mr Caffrey 11-8fav (11-0) Chased leaders, niggled along before 3 out, ridden to lead before 2 out where not fluent, ran on well after last, won at Taunton 2m 3f (5) gd in Nov beating Mizen Master (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Niblawi (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, led over 12f out, headed well over 1f out, stayed on, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Amtiyaz (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Sakhee's City (FR) 11-1 (11-9) Raced out wide, prominent early, lost place 3rd, behind and struggling 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, 37 1/2l behind Mario De Pail (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Wicked Willy (IRE) 3-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 4th, mistake 6th and 9th, struggling 12th, soon well behind, tailed off 3 out, pulled up after, at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Stoneford (IRE) 200-1 (11-9) Led, headed after 6th, dropped out quickly, pulled up after 4 out, at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Paricolor (FR) 11-8 (11-5) In touch, going well before 4 out, joined leader 3 out, shaken up 2 out, led approaching last, always in command last 110 yards, won at Leicester 2m (4) sft in Nov beating Ferrobin (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
