in touch in mid-division, not fluent 13th, ridden and weakened before 2 out
led until after 1st, prominent, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
not always fluent, always towards rear
mid-division, effort 4 out, ridden before 2 out, 4th and held flat, kept on
held up towards rear, hit 10th, headway 13th, not much room after 4 out, lost place before 2 out
raced keenly, led after 1st, headed 4th, led next, not fluent 15th, headed 16th, jumped left and not fluent 18th, ridden before 2 out, 3rd and held final 100 yards, kept on
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, lost place before 2 out, pulled up after
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, pecked 17th, never involved, well beaten from 3 out
prominent, led 4th, headed next, led 16th, ridden and stayed on gamely flat
mid-division, headway 8th, challenged 2 out, held by winner inside final 100 yards, stayed on
held up towards rear, ridden on outside after 4 out, headway before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
Celebre D'Allen was never going the pace over 2m4f last time at Wincanton and may be ready for another try over this trip. Eva's Oskar has been running well in a higher grade and has only gone up 3lb for winning at Cheltenham. Rapper was an easy winner at the same track on New Year’s Day but Equus Dancer has never won over a trip this far and a stiff 3m may be too much for Flegmatik. Broken Halo is struggling for form but Empire Steel should strip fitter for a run at Aintree, though LASKALIN makes more appeal. After beating a subsequent winner at Ludlow, the latter made a couple of significant errors at Newbury but still led until halfway up the straight and was keeping on in the closing stages. Bangers And Cash is also respected after recent wins at Exeter and Market Rasen.
Empire Steel (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) In rear, held up, pushed along 4 out, soon ridden, never nearer, 7th of 13, 14 1/2l behind Brave Seasca (12-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Rapper 8-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, led 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Java Point (11-2) by 8 1/2l, 11 ran.
Eva's Oskar (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Always prominent, pushed along after 17th, led 2 out, edged right and hard pressed after last, driven and stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Dec beating Spiritofthegames (11-6) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Flegmatik (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Started slowly in standing start, off the pace towards rear, steady headway on inside before 4 out, pushed along in 4th turning in, mistake 3 out, weakened soon after, 10th of 14, 28 1/4l behind Remastered (12-1) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Celebre D'Allen (FR) 85-40fav (11-9) Held up in rear, slow 10th, ridden before 13th, in touch approaching 4 out, ridden before next, well held from 2 out, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Elixir De Nutz (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Larry 25-1 (11-6) Soon towards rear, hit 13th and given reminders, never on terms after, 6th of 14, 13 1/4l behind Remastered (12-1) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Emir Sacree (FR) 15-8fav (11-10) Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next, pulled up last, at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Kauto Riko (FR) 28-1 (11-5) Off the pace towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 13th, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Equus Dancer (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Close up, mistake 3rd, tracked leaders 10th, chased leader 2 out( normal 3 out), led turning in, asserted close home (fence in home straight omitted both circuits), won at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Nocte Volatus (11-6) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Castle Robin (IRE) 9-2jfav (11-8) Chased leaders, looking to lead when slowed badly into 4th and lost place quickly, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Laskalin (FR) 7-2fav (11-12) Led, hit 5 out, headed 2 out, lost 2nd between last two, no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 13, 6 1/4l behind Grumpy Charley (12-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Broken Halo 11-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, pushed along and beaten 4 out, 6th of 12, 22 3/4l behind Fugitif (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Bangers And Cash (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Mid-division, going well home turn, led before 3 out, clear 2 out, mistake last, stayed on well flat, held on gamely, won at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Geryville (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Movethechains (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Towards rear, slow jump 1st, shaken up 3rd, some headway 17th plugged on, never on terms, 5th of 17, dist behind The Two Amigos (10-6) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
