with leader, ridden and weakened from 3 out
led, headed before 4 out, led again 3 out, kept on, driven out
in rear and jumped left, tailed off and pulled up before 9th
tracked leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 2 out
behind, headway before 5 out, led before 4 out, headed 3 out, kept on towards finish
towards rear, pushed along 10th, tailed off from 5 out, pulled up
tracked leaders, outpaced before 4 out, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway 5 out, in 3rd and hit 3 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, pushed along 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off
A useful turnout for a decent purse with Germany Calling setting the standard off top weight if able to replicate the level of his impressive rout of Drumlee Sunset at Doncaster last time. He's not always the easiest to catch right though and a chance is taken with UPSILON BLEU. He bypassed the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day and didn't run too badly last time when weakening relatively late on at Ascot behind Sire De Grugy. He should be spot-on now and can give us a good run for our money at an each-way price. Pain Au Chocolat is steadily finding form this term and is respected for Dan Skelton, whilst Cold March has shown enough in competitive handicaps this term to be of interest too. The three at the foot of the weights have all been in good heart this term and make some appeal, with Viens Chercher, open to plenty of improvement over fences, looking most interesting. Indeed, he could well emerge as the main threat to the selection.
Germany Calling (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Led 2nd, clear 4 out, not fluent last, easily, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Drumlee Sunset (11-8) by 15l, 5 ran.
Cold March (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Mid-division, hit 3rd and lost place, driven 7th, behind when hit 10th, stayed on from 2 out for modest 5th flat, no chance, 5th of 11, 16 1/4l behind Eastlake (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Runswick Royal (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, close up 4 out, disputed 2nd next, ridden and stayed on to chase winner flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Kilbree Kid (10-6) at Perth 3m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Witness In Court (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Led until blundered and unseated rider 9th, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Upsilon Bleu (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led 6th until 4 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, 13 1/2l behind Sire De Grugy (11-12) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Pain Au Chocolat (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Led to 7 out, led again 5 out, headed 3 out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Cloudy Dream (10-10) at Haydock 2m (2) sft in Nov.
Viens Chercher (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Led until 6th, jumped right and baulked 9th, 4th and beaten last, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Gold Present (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Ash Park (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) In rear, headway before 4 out, chased winner from last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Bun Doran (11-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Royal Macnab (IRE) 12-5fav (11-7) Made all, ridden before last, held on near finish, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Dec beating Formidableopponent (11-3) by nk, 7 ran.
