chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, mistake 16th, lost 2nd 3 out, chased leading pair until between last 2, weakened soon after
raced wide, held up tracking leaders in 5th, closer in 4th at 9th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened between last 2
in rear, jumped slowly 2nd, jumped slowly 8th, blundered badly 12th and pulled up
made virtually all, hit 16th, briefly headed approaching 2 out, soon in front again, 1 length ahead last, stayed on dourly run-in
chased leaders out wide, went 3rd at 9th, 2nd 3 out, led briefly and mistake 2 out, chased winner after, 1 length down last, driven and no extra run-in
chased winner until 5th, chased leaders, lost place 9th, towards rear when mistake 12th, pulled up before 16th (water)
held up in last pair, outpaced 3 out, rallied on inside between last 2, kept on under pressure into one paced 3rd at the last
NonRunner
Deise Aba won this last year and is only 2lb higher but hasn’t gone a yard in two runs this winter. Wind surgery hasn’t so far improved Danny Whizzbang but this is probably his easiest task of the season so far. Dominateur is another with a bit to prove at present but Ask Me Early has impressed in a couple of runs over fences at Chepstow and there is almost certainly more to come from Harry Fry’s grey. KILTEALY BRIGGS is unexposed and running in his first-ever handicap. He is definitely worth another try over 3m and conditions won’t be a problem for the seven-year-old.
Danny Whizzbang (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Towards rear, pushed along before 13th, tailed off and pulled up after 16th, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Led, ridden after 3 out, headed before 2 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 5, 10 3/4l behind Allart (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) sft in Dec.
Dominateur (FR) 16-1 (10-8) Held up in mid-division, lost place before 2nd, mistake 12th and 17th, some headway 17th, well beaten before 4 out, 13th of 18, dist behind Secret Reprieve (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Deise Aba (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along 11th, soon ridden and struggling, pulled up before 4 out (usually 5 out), at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Coo Star Sivola (FR) 9-2 (10-13) Off the pace in rear, closer on outside 10th, good headway chasing leaders 12th, driven and outpaced after 4 out, plugged on, 5th of 11, 13l behind Double Shuffle (11-2) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Ask Me Early (IRE) 7-4fav (10-6) Jumped well, made all, slowed slightly into last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Hold That Taught (10-3) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Calipso Collonges (FR) 40-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, well beaten before 5 out, pulled up after, at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
A Toi Phil (FR) 14-1 (11-12) In touch in 5th, lost place 9th, rallied approaching 3 out, kept on, 4th of 8, 10 1/2l behind Smarty Wild (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
