in touch, ridden and headway 2 out, kept on same pace
chased clear winner, ridden 3 out, lost 2nd approaching last, plugged on
in touch, mistake 2nd, ridden and headway 2 out, went 2nd next, kept on one pace
in rear, hit 4 out, tailed off when pulled up last
in rear, ridden 3 out, never near leaders
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next
in touch, headway 4 out, ridden next, weakened approaching last
held up, ridden 3f out, never near leaders
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out
made all, soon clear, ridden out
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up last
held up, ridden 3f out, never on terms
NonRunner
Sunrise Ruby makes her handicap debut having placed in all three starts to date over hurdles but she lacks a recent run. Gary Moore’s pair, Mickey Buckman and Et Moi Alors, look closely matched but the latter is also returning from a break. Welland probably didn’t beat much at Fakenham but there may be more to come from The Raven's Return as he only weakened approaching the last on his reappearance at Stratford in October. There are a trio of three-year-olds facing the starter and all have already tasted success over timber. Guardia Top is a bit more exposed than Catch The Cuban and POP THE CORK and it’s Jonjo O’Neill’s charge that gets the nod, though he will have to settle better if he is to fulfil his potential.
Mickey Buckman 6-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, every chance 2 out, hit last, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Do Wanna Know (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
Et Moi Alors (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, not fluent 7th, challenging when mistake 2 out, stayed on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Buster Edwards (11-5) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in May.
Sunrise Ruby (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, blundered 6th, ridden after 3 out, one pace in 3rd when switched right after next, not fluent last, stayed on to take 2nd near finish, no impression with winner, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Hotter Than Hell (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in May.
Derek Duval (USA) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakening when hampered next, 12th of 14, dist behind Bathsheba Bay (11-0) at Taunton 2m mdn (5) gd in Nov.
The Raven's Return 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden to challenged before last, no extra run-in, 4th of 11, 8 1/4l behind Imperial Flem (10-12) at Stratford 2m (3) sft in Oct.
Welland 7-1 (11-4) Close up, pushed along and headway to lead narrowly last, ridden and ran on, won at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Two Blondes (10-2) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Catch The Cuban 4-1fav (10-7) Bit keen, made all, joined when left clear last, won at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Global Tour (12-0) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Pop The Cork 11-8 (10-12) Pulled hard, chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m (4) sft in Oct beating Olympic Honour (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Golconda Prince (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 28l behind Golden Taipan (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Guardia Top (FR) 11-10fav (10-13) Led, not fluent 2 out and last, headed flat, kept on same pace, 2nd of 18, 1 1/4l behind Those Tiger Feet (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Megalodon (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up behind, not fluent 6th, headway on inside before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 11th of 12, dist behind Lock's Corner (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Harry Hazard 13-2 (10-2) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, never on terms, remote 4th, 4th of 6, 34l behind Poucor (11-1) at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Kestrel Valley 12-1 (10-9) Made most to after 4 out, lost place before next, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 28 3/4l behind Lock's Corner (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
