held up in touch, under pressure 7th, mistake next, no impression
held up towards rear but in touch, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, weakened 2 out
tracked leader, effort 4 out, weakened next, modest 4th
led, soon clear, headed 10th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, not fluent 6th, led 10th, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, headway under pressure 5 out, every chance 3 out, led next, ran on
The much travelled UNZING (NAP) had won in France and been placed in Ireland before scoring over 2m1f here on Boxing Day when Ulis De Vassy was well beaten. He's up 5lb but should be even better over this longer trip. Attimo, a dual winner in April, had dropped to a fair mark after several moderate efforts and made no mistake at Sedgefield on Boxing Day though he's back up another 5lb and hasn't won from a mark this high. Highbury High is very consistent now his jumping problems have been ironed out and is on the same mark as when scoring here in the past. Noble Legend hasn't been running well though in slightly better company and has first-time blinkers while Make Me A Fortune, three times a winner over hurdles, has shown very little over fences.
Ulis De Vassy (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Towards rear, weakened 4 out, tailed off next, last of 8, 33 1/2l behind Unzing (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Unzing (FR) 10-3fav (11-4) In touch, headway 4 out, joined leaders next, ridden to lead flat, ran on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating No Ceiling (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Attimo (GER) 3-1 (11-9) In touch on outer, went 2nd 4 out, led before last, ridden out flat (no time taken), won at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Alchimix (10-0) by 4l, 9 ran.
Noble Legend 16-1 (10-13) Led, jumped right 7th, headed and reminder 8th, led 9th, headed 11th, not fluent 12th, weakened before 4 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Templehills (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Make Me A Fortune (IRE) 17-2 (10-10) Tracked leader, ridden 9th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up last, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Highbury High (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Held up, on inside, well in touch before 11th, driven 2 out, close 4th when mistake last, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 5l behind Arquebusier (11-4) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
