tracked leader, led after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well
chased leaders, slow 6th, soon lost touch, beaten 4 out
tracked leader, driven 4 out, no extra from next
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, stayed on into 2nd after 2 out, stayed on well closing stages
led, headed after 2 out, kept on same pace
Zolfo defied a rise in the weights to land a double in testing going at Bangor last month but is 6lb higher bidding for a hat-trick. He should go close again in his current frame of mind but FORT DE L’OCEAN can race off the mark as when just missing out at Catterick last week with Maxed Out King back in third and Oliver Greenall’s charge is taken to go one better with a conditional’s allowance helping his cause today. Bandsman and Cusheen Bridge continue to struggle and are hard to recommend.
Zolfo (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Held up, headway 3 out, challenged last, soon led, stayed on, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Royal Act (10-2) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Bandsman 66-1 (11-0) Last pair, pecked 2nd, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Cusheen Bridge (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Held up in 4th place, pushed along and outpaced before 12th, mistake and lost 3rd next, ridden and weakened soon after, 4th of 5, dist behind Horatio Hornblower (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Fort De L'Ocean (FR) 14-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, led before 3 out, 6 lengths clear last, headed close home, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Reverant Cust (11-11) at Catterick 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Maxed Out King (IRE) 10-3 (11-3) Led until slow 5th, soon ridden, led 8th, headed before 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 7 3/4l behind Reverant Cust (11-11) at Catterick 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
