led until after 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd again after 3 out until next, hung left under pressure from between last two, rallied into 2nd again and hung left approaching the last, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
led approaching 2nd, made rest, 2 lengths ahead when hit last, stayed on strongly run-in
mid-division, pushed along after 3 out , soon struggling
raced keenly, tracked leaders, led after 1st until approaching next, chased winner until hit 3 out, chased leaders, weakened before next
well in rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up soon after
mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, plugged on in modest 4th
chased leaders until lost place after 3rd, ridden towards rear and struggling after 5th, tailed off 3 out
mid-division, hit 3rd and stumbled, slightly hampered next, towards rear 5th, tailed off
chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd on inside 2 out, ridden and no impression when lost 2nd approaching the last where mistake, plugged on
off the pace in last trio, never a factor, tailed off
towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 4th
well off the pace in last pair, closer on inside and awkward 2 out, plugged on run-in
Chti Balko has won on heavy going but isn’t getting any younger and seems to prefer flatter tracks nowadays. Mack The Man will also like the ground and usually runs his race with Metier another who relishes the mud. The latter won the last time he raced in this grade and Hacker Des Places is relatively unexposed compared to most of these. Hudson De Grugy was behind Thibault at Sandown two runs ago but bounced back here last time while Lucky Max rattled up a hat-trick in Ireland on the run up to Christmas. Gowel Road has a touch of class but was only third of four at Newbury last time off today’s mark. Attracted by a lucrative prize, Emmet Mullins has declared both CARRAREA and Sevenna Star. The former is Paul Townend’s only booked ride and has bags of scope having just come up short when making his handicap debut at Fairyhouse – his stamina will likely come into play on today’s going.
Gowel Road (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Close up, not fluent 3rd, ridden and briefly pressed leader before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Onemorefortheroad (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Metier (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Front mid-division, ridden home turn, chased leaders 2 out, stayed on, not pace to challenge, 4th of 12, 9 1/4l behind Tritonic (11-0) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Lucky Max (GER) 11-8fav (11-5) Waited with in mid-division, smooth headway entering straight, 5th when slight mistake 3 out, soon pushed along, on terms next, ridden and led after 2 out, 2 length lead last, kept on well, won at Cork 2m hcp sft in Dec beating R'evelyn Pleasure (11-3) by 2 3/4l, 16 ran.
Hudson De Grugy (FR) 7-2 (11-11) Tracked leader, pushed along well over 2 out and soon led, ridden under 2 out, edged right before last, ran on well flat and going away at line, won at Lingfield 2m hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Calico (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Antunes 50-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear on inside, not fluent 9th or 10th, well beaten 11th, pulled up before 4 out, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Hacker Des Places (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went second 3 out, pushed along and lost place approaching 2 out, faded before last, 6th of 10, 17 1/4l behind Rowland Ward (11-5) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Chti Balko (FR) 3-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, led before not fluent 7th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 9, 28 1/2l behind Celebre D'Allen (11-3) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Mack The Man (IRE) 10-3 (10-11) Held up off the pace towards rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders before 2 out, ridden between last two, weakened before the last, 5th of 8, 9l behind Hydroplane (10-2) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Carrarea (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Mid-division on inner, not fluent at 4th, headway entering straight, 4th travelling well 2 out, soon ridden, 4th at last, improved into 2nd close home, stayed on well, just failed, 2nd of 19, hd behind Broomfields Jeremy (11-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp gd in Nov.
Sevenna Star (IRE) 66-1 (9-12) Rear of mid-division, headway before 4th, 6th before 6th, dropped to rear and weakened before 2 out, 15th of 18, 26 1/4l behind Gua Du Large (10-5) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Nov.
Thibault 11-2 (9-9) Always in rear, last of 7, 9 1/4l behind Riggsby (8-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Destrier (FR) 40-1 (11-5) Held up off the pace in last trio, good headway chasing leaders 5th, weakened before 3 out, no chance when flattened next, last of 9, 29 1/2l behind Green Book (11-5) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
