tracked clear leaders, close up after 5th, lost place 9th, soon behind
held up behind, mistake 8th, headway under pressure after next, kept on same pace, 8th and no impression when mistake 2 out
in touch main group, close up after 5th, went 2nd before 2 out, led between last 2, 6 clear when hit last, ridden and stayed on flat
in touch main group, close up after 5th, outpaced after 3 out, no impression from next
in touch main group, close up after 5th, outpaced after 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division on outside, headway 3 out, chased leaders before next, stayed on to go 2nd last, no impression with winner
towards rear, mistake 6th, struggling next, never dangerous
in touch main group, dropped to mid-division before 6th, struggling next, weakened after 3 out
in touch main group, close up after 5th, lost place 9th, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, never on terms
mid-division, chased leaders under pressure before 2 out, soon weakened
led, hit 4th, clear to after next, blundered 8th, ridden and headed before next, soon weakened, tailed off
held up behind, struggling 8th, tailed off next
mid-division, chased leaders under pressure on inside before 2 out, soon weakened
in touch main group, close up after 5th, ridden and lost place 9th, soon behind
tracked leader in clear 2nd, close up after 5th, led before 9th, ridden and headed between last 2, lost place last, no impression flat
mid-division, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked clear leaders, close up after 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression
mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, weakened before next
mid-division, mistake 5th, headway 8th, chased leader after 3 out to before next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression
These series qualifiers are never easy to solve and a few of the 20 runners here will have been entered in order to qualify for March's lucrative final. Valid Point is already in good form, however, and chasing a hat-trick after back-to-back wins at Towcester. Drumbaloo won at Chepstow on his first start for Evan Williams, but My Brother Sylvest came unstuck at Ffos Las last time and is only one of four David Pipe entries which include Buena Vista, winner of the series final for the past two years. Poungach is lightly-raced and can't be ignored but we just prefer HILDISVINI, who ran as though just in need of the outing when third at Exeter recently. A progressive sort in the spring, he can resume winning ways here.
Buena Vista (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Disputed lead until lost place 7th, soon behind, tailed off 3 out, 18th of 20, well behind Dynaste (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
The Betchworth Kid 25-1 (11-1) Always behind, 15th of 23, 20l behind Brampour (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Poungach (FR) 3-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, headway after 3 out, led approaching last, pushed clear, easily, won at Ascot 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) gs in Jan beating No Secrets (11-8) by 8l, 14 ran.
On Borrowed Wings (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 5th, tailed off when hit 4 out,, 9th of 10, well behind King Of The Night (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Hildisvini (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway after 5th, went 3rd approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 10, 32l behind The Knoxs (10-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Cantlow (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 3rd, not fluent 9th, went 2nd 4 out until before next, weakened approaching last, 10th of 19, 36l behind Dorset Square (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Global Power (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Always behind, 14th of 20, well behind Dynaste (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Occasionally Yours (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 9, 10l behind Featherbed Lane (10-11) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Aachen 33-1 (9-12) Mid-division, mistake 6th, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 10th of 22, 25l behind Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Arrayan 7-1fav (10-8) Pressed leader until hit 3 out, soon ridden and weakened rapidly, tailed off, 21st of 24, well behind Alarazi (10-3) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Mar.
My Brother Sylvest 4-1 (11-12) Led, joined 6th, ridden and headed after 4 out, weakened next and soon eased, 8th of 9, well behind Palace Jester (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Star Of Angels 1-5fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, hit 6th, went second next, led after 3 out, clear 2 out, mistake last, eased towards finish, won at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct '09 beating Squinch (11-0) by 6l, 8 ran.
Saticon 17-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, weakened approaching next, 8th of 11, 31l behind Quartz De Thaix (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr '10.
Westlin' Winds (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Mid-division when fell 4th, in a race won by Any Given Day (11-7) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Warne's Way (IRE) 17-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden to chase before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 12, 18l behind Bally Legend (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Drumbaloo (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway on inside approaching 4 out, led last, ran on well, won at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct beating Express Leader (11-11) by 4l, 13 ran.
Whispering Jack 9-2 (11-6) Held up, reminders halfway, hit 7th, soon ridden, headway to chase winner 3 out, hit 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Palace Jester (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Valid Point (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders on outside, joined leader after 7th, led after 3 out, drew clear from next, comfortably, won at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov beating Manadam (10-1) by 8l, 6 ran.
Safran De Cotte (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, mistake 2 out, rallied soon after, stayed on well from last, took 4th flat, almost snatched 3rd, 4th of 12, 10l behind Pateese (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Aviador (GER) 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, lost place before 4 out, soon weakened, 12th of 15, well behind Roalco De Farges (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Apr.
