raced wide, keen, held up, in touch, headway to chase leader over 3f out, led over 1f out, ridden and headed close home
in touch, ridden and headway over 3f out, effort when short of room over 1f out, stayed on
towards rear, headway to track leaders over 3f out, effort over 1f out, stayed on
dwelt, close up, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, eased over 1f out, tailed off
tracked leaders, chased leader 6f out, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon edged right, stayed on
slow into stride, towards rear, never a factor
in rear, headway on outer over 3f out, edged left over 2f out, ridden and stayed on to lead close home
keen, tracked clear leader until 6f out, weakened over 3f out, eased 2f out, tailed off
Medicine Hat flopped when sent off favourite on the Fibresand at Southwell last time but had earlier beaten Hallstatt at Wolverhampton by seven lengths. Burnside has gone close the last twice but is upped in class along with Maple Stirrup, second here last month when ahead of Jan Smuts. CAVALIERI landed a double in November, including a course and distance success, but was upped a grade when beaten here last time. Philip Kirby’s charge may well return to winning ways back at this level.
Medicine Hat 11-10fav (9-11) In touch, chased leaders halfway, under pressure over 3f out, soon no impression, 4th of 6, 26l behind Fern Owl (9-10) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Wordiness 28-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, held up last, not clear run and switched left inside final furlong, stayed on, went never nearer 4th towards finish, 4th of 6, 8 3/4l behind Go George Go (8-7) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Cavalieri (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, under pressure over 2f out, soon beaten, 7th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Stamford Raffles (9-0) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Hallstatt (IRE) 33-1 (9-12) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Medicine Hat (9-13) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Palindrome (USA) 100-1 (9-5) Tracked leader 4f, in touch, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on to take modest 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 8 1/2l behind Paris Magic (9-5) at Newcastle 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Burnside (FR) 5-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, driven over 2f out, soon chased leader, ridden to lead narrowly entering final furlong, kept on, headed and no extra final 50 yards, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Aurora Gray (9-7) at Lingfield 2m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Maple Stirrup (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden to challenge 2f out, kept on and every chance final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Shan Dun Na Ngall (9-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Jan Smuts (IRE) 9-1 (9-10) In touch main group, close up 6f out, effort 3f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon ridden, no extra final furlong, 5th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Shan Dun Na Ngall (9-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Merriment 7-1 (8-12) Hampered start, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, faded final furlong, 5th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Airton (9-5) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Rocky Two (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 14, 28 3/4l behind Danceintothelight (12-0) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
