held up, pushed along after 5th, well beaten 3 out
led, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
held up, headway on outside before 2 out, weakened approaching last, went 3rd flat
held up on outside, pushed along after 3 out, closed to take 3rd 2 out, went 2nd last, led flat, stayed on
prominent, hit 3 out, led before next, ridden approaching last, headed flat, stayed on
pulled hard, handy 1st, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up after
prominent, challenged before 2 out, 3rd when not fluent and stumbled last, weakened flat
Oscar Hoof’s career has been very stop-start and it’s doubtful if he’ll ever fulfill his potential, though only found one too good in a Worcester claimer after yet another long lay-off. Gordon Elliott has sent over two to contest this seller with preference for RIGHTDOWNTHEMIDDLE ahead of King's Song, who is conceding 4lb. The 10-year-old has largely been chasing since winning a handicap over 3m at Perth in July. Regulation looks a threat at the weights and so does Never Equalled, who makes more appeal than stablemate Shadow's Boy and Elysian Prince.
King's Song (FR) 14-1 (10-8) Waited with, 11th at 4th, pushed along after 8th, one pace from 4 out, 9th of 13, 32 1/4l behind Mighty Stowaway (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp gd in Nov.
Never Equalled (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out (normal 4 out), 7th of 9, dist behind Penn Lane (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Regulation (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leading pair, tracked leader after 2nd, chased winner before 3 out until between last 2, weakened badly run-in, 5th of 10, 8 1/2l behind Phoenix Dawn (10-9) at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Rightdownthemiddle (IRE) 50-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway 15th, ridden after next, soon weakened, 13th of 16, dist behind Relentless Dreamer (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Shadow's Boy 50-1 (10-13) Led until 3rd, led again 5th until before next, lost 2nd 7tth, weakened after 3 out (normal 4 out) tailed off, blundered last, 8th of 9, dist behind Penn Lane (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Elysian Prince 5-2 (10-12) 3rd or 4th in chasing group, not fluent 4th, closed after 6th, hit 3 out, ridden after next, one pace and beaten before last, 4th of 6, 18 1/2l behind Utility (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3f (5) gd in Nov.
Oscar Hoof (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, ridden after next, headed last, one pace flat, rallied towards finish, just held, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Mizen Master (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f (5) gd in Aug.
