stumbled leaving stalls, slightly worse than midfield, some headway before pushed 3f out, ridden 2f out, no further impression
midfield, headway to track leaders before pushed approaching 2f out, ridden 2f out and gradually weakened
close-up, pushed before 4f out, ridden after 3f out, gradually weakened from 2f out
close-up, joined leader and pushed 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on well but just failed
slightly worse than midfield, pushed and headway before 3f out, ridden entering final furlong and soon joined leaders, hit front late on, just prevailed
stood still in stalls, refused to race
in rear, pushed before 3f out where ridden, some late headway, never nearer
prominent, raced keenly, hit front 6f out, joined 3f out and soon pushed, ridden 2f out, headed and faded inside final furlong
reluctant to load, towards rear, pushed 3f out, minor headway before ridden after 2f out, kept on one pace, never nearer
in rear, pushed 3f out, some late headway
midfield, pushed before 3f out, ridden 2f out, made no impression
close-up, outpaced and pushed before 3f out, soon faded, beaten from 2f out
towards rear, pushed 3f out, staying on when ridden after 2f out, went 4th entering final furlong, gained a further place late on
soon led, headed 6f out, weakened quickly from 5f out, became detached from 3f out
Scarborough Castle completed a double over much shorter at Wolverhampton but tackled this trip on his handicap debut at Kempton where he came from a long way back to finish a close fourth. MEADOW SPRITE was always in the front rank when stepping up to this trip at Kempton and, though only having a short-head to spare, had a bit in hand and is taken to overcome a 3lb rise. He holds Smokey Malone on an earlier victory at Yarmouth while Aljaryaal looked one to follow when landing a Wolverhampton handicap over this trip and started odds-on back there three weeks later but didn't stay 1m6f - he's a threat back over this trip.
Merweb (IRE) 40-1 (8-2) In touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 10th of 11, 13 1/2l behind Tombolo (8-9) at Chester 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Nashy (IRE) 11-1 (9-3) Midfield, pushed along over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 7th of 12, 4 3/4l behind Hooflepuff (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Destinado 40-1 (8-11) Keen held up, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 11, 6 1/2l behind Bobba Tee (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Aljaryaal (FR) 5-6fav (9-5) Raced keenly, chased leaders, switched right over 3f out, soon pushed along, ridden to challenge over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 7th of 13, 8l behind This Ones For Fred (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Scarborough Castle 13-8fav (9-7) Held up, made headway at 3f, ridden and rallied at 2f, kept on inside final furlong, not reach winner, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Morani Kali (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Straight Ash (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway and prominent in chasing group 7f out, went 2nd 6f out, led over 4f out, headed over 2f out, chased leaders, weakened inside final 2f, 6th of 9, 15 1/2l behind Beat The Breeze (9-13) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Romulan Prince 40-1 (9-8) Raced wide in touch, pushed along and weakened 2f out, 6th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Inexplicable (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Meadow Sprite (IRE) 15-2 (8-8) Edged left start, led early, prominent, ridden 2f out, led again over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, held on well, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec beating Torbellino (9-4) by shd, 11 ran.
Smokey Malone 18-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, hanging left from over 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 16, 1 1/4l behind Meadow Sprite (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp (6) gs in Oct.
Bug Boy (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Towards rear, never on terms, last of 10, 9l behind Steel An Icon (9-9) at Bath 1m 5f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
In Paradise 40-1 (9-6) Mid division, pushed along and outpaced 2f out, weakened thereafter, 9th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Bagatelle (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Artillery 12-1 (8-9) Pushed away from stalls, given reminder over 6f out, ridden along 4f out, stayed on grab third inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 5 3/4l behind Mackelly (8-11) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Aug.
Dew You Believe (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Towards rear, pushed along 4f out, some late headway, 6th of 10, 8 1/4l behind Tawtheef (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Quelle Vitesse (GER) 40-1 (8-11) Always towards rear, 11th of 14, 9 1/4l behind Maharashtra (9-1) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
