in touch in mid-division on outside, lost place after 9th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, closed before 4th, jumped left 6th, close 3rd 3 out, challenged 2 out, led soon after, edged right, drew clear towards finish
led until after 1st, prominent, led 9th, headed 3 out, 3rd and held from last
held up in touch, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 9th, headway before 3 out, went 4th 2 out, no impression on leaders
jumped left 1st, soon led, slow 2nd, headed before 8th, weakened 2 out
prominent, led before 8th, headed next, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, weakened after 9th, pulled up before 3 out
behind, ridden before 3 out, no impression
held up towards rear, mistake 6th, some headway before 3 out, no impression, 5th when mistake last
held up rear of mid-division, headway after 9th, jumped left and led 3 out, jumped left next, soon hung left, headed soon after last and hung again, no impression towards finish
Despite carrying a penalty, Thursday’s Newcastle winner Our Idic Boy is still racing from out of the handicap though Charlie Todd again claims 3lb so he goes on the shortlist. Last week’s Plumpton scorer Top Man also carries 7lb extra so we’ll take a chance that a change of scenery and return to a longer trip brings about the required improvement in ART OF DIPLOMACY (NAP). The Flat winner had every chance at Huntingdon around this time last year when falling at the last and races off the same mark here.
Trooper Jones 14-1 (10-3) Mid-division, closed from 6th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Bigbadmattie (10-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Art Of Diplomacy 12-1 (8-13) Difficult loading, kept wide early, tracked leaders in 4th, came wide in home straight, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous after, last of 6, 9 3/4l behind Whitehaven (9-13) at Haydock 2m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Top Man (IRE) 9-4fav (11-7) Prominent, joined leader 10th, led next, went clear approaching 2 out, eased flat, comfortably, won at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Nov beating Jungle Prose (11-10) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Holly James 25-1 (11-12) Towards rear, reminders halfway, never involved, 11th of 17, dist behind Bourbali (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Golden Glory (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, ridden and lost place before 8th, weakened before 4 out, 8th of 12, dist behind Pour Une Raison (11-2) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Get An Oscar (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) In rear, reminder after 5th, behind next, tailed off, 13th of 15, dist behind Tip Top Cat (11-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Lough Derg Lyric (IRE) 100-1 (12-2) Mid-division, ridden and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hvy in Jan.
General Picton (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway before 9th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 31 1/2l behind My Lady Grey (11-4) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Sue Be It (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Towards rear, never on terms, 6th of 11, 23 3/4l behind Getalead (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Racing Spirit 25-1 (10-6) Mid-division, not fluent 7th, headway 4 out, 3rd when mistake 2 out, kept on, no impression on winner, 3rd of 12, 7 1/4l behind Uno Mas (12-3) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Our Idic Boy (IRE) 5-2 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 3 out, joined leader 2 out, ridden before last, led towards finish, won going away, won at Newcastle 3m hcp (5) gd in Nov beating Permission Granted (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
