slowly away, not fluent 1st, left 3rd at the 3rd, not fluent 10th, went 2nd next, hit 3 out, soon ridden, every chance when mistake last, held by leader when losing 2nd towards finish
tracked leader, mistake 4th, not fluent next, led 6th, driven after 3 out, 3 lengths clear flat, headed close home
led until 4th, headed and jumped left 6th, went left again next, last and struggling after 4 out, about 12 lengths down and looked well held 3 out until last, stayed on well flat, led close home
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, fell 3rd
Ittirad loves this ground on which he made hay throughout the summer months before being upped dramatically in grade at the Kempton Christmas Festival when not running too badly behind the likes of Ar Mad, Vaniteux and Arzal. It's very tempting to row in with him here but this is a step-up in trip for the Ferguson inmate and he also must concede 5lb to the promising SAMETEGAL. The latter was no match, understandably, for More Of That at Cheltenham last time but meets nothing of that calibre here and receives fractional preference. Five In A Row is preferred for the minor placing.
Ittirad (USA) 25-1 (11-8) Held up, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, pushed along and effort in dispute of 3rd before 3 out, no impression on front pair, not fluent last, no extra, 4th of 5, 9 3/4l behind Ar Mad (11-8) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Sametegal (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Led until before 4th, close 2nd after, not fluent 3 out, ridden when not fluent next, no impression on winner when not fluent last, eased final 150 yards, 2nd of 3, 13l behind More Of That (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) sft in Dec.
Five In A Row (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Held up in rear, always behind, 13th of 15, 25 1/4l behind Donna's Diamond (11-12) at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Overtheedge (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Tracked leader to 6th, in rear from 9th, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out, at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
