tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and beaten next, stayed on one pace
held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 4th, no impression before 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, well beaten after 3 out
led into start, led, headed after 3 out, regained lead 2 out, stayed on gamely, clear final 100 yards
held up towards rear, some headway after 3 out, ridden and no impression before next
took keen hold, tracked leader, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, edged left and no impression on winner final 100 yards
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, not fluent next, outpaced before 2 out, plugged on flat
mid-division, ridden and well beaten before 2 out
held up, took keen hold, closed 4th, 4th 2 out, one pace and no impression
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, jumped right and lost place 3rd, soon behind
held up in rear, ridden and well beaten before 2 out
Rayvin Black won this last year when Leviathan was among the also-rans but is still 18lb higher and turned in a shocker in the Ladbroke at Ascot last month. He is also worse off at the weights than when beaten by EBONY EXPRESS in the Imperial Cup here last March. Richard Newland's charge could go well at a price in this as he should now be cherry-ripe, though Romain De Senam is a potential blot on the handicap and lightly-raced. Doncaster winner Minstrels Gallery has plenty to find with Sirop De Menthe on the form book while Grade 2 runner-up Cardinal Palace doesn't look particularly well treated on his handicap debut, though Kayf Blanco usually runs his race. Melodic Rendezvous won the Tolworth on this card in 2013 and is usually campaigned at a higher level but he struggles to get his head in front nowadays.
Melodic Rendezvous 20-1 (11-0) Chased leader until after 2nd, last before and outpaced before next, went 4th and stayed on flat, no impression on front trio, 4th of 6, 5 3/4l behind Old Guard (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Kayf Blanco 9-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway after 2 out, switched left before last, went 3rd final 100 yards, stayed on, 3rd of 14, 3l behind Solstice Star (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Cardinal Palace (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up in rear and in touch, headway before 3 out, led last, kept on and headed close home, 2nd of 6, shd behind Roadie Joe (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f (1) gd in Oct.
Rayvin Black 25-1 (11-2) Chased leader until pushed along before 4 out, chased leaders, weakened after next, 16th of 21, dist behind Jolly's Cracked It (11-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Ebony Express 9-2 (11-1) Led until 1st, chased leader until after next, chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 10, 23 3/4l behind Lil Rockerfeller (11-11) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Sirop De Menthe (FR) 5-2 (12-0) Raced on inside, tracked leaders, 2nd approaching 3 out, led after 3 out, headed last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Never Says Never (10-7) at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Minstrels Gallery (IRE) 4-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, headway before 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Qewy (11-8) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Leviathan 4-1 (11-10) Took keen hold tracking leaders, led and hit 2nd, headed approaching 4th, 3 out, chased leader until hit 3 out, chased leading pair until well before next where not fluent, rallied into modest 3rd again run-in, 3rd of 5, 8 1/4l behind Presenting Arms (11-11) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Romain De Senam (FR) 1-4fav (11-12) Led and keen, ridden run-in, kept on and edged left, caught post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Jaleo (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Lochnagar (GER) 5-2fav (10-12) Soon led, went left 2nd, blundered and unseated rider next, at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
See The Rock (IRE) 11-8fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders before next, stayed on into modest 4th after 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 13, 20l behind Flashjack (10-12) at Leicester 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
