held up in touch in rear, ridden after 3 out, every chance after last, one pace final 150 yards
tracked leaders on inside, led 2 out, stayed on
prominent on outside, ridden after 4 out, one pace before last, no impression
led, not fluent 3rd, ridden and headed after 3 out, no impression last
held up in touch, pushed along 4 out, weakened after next
held up in touch in rear on outside, pushed along briefly approaching 6th, weakened 3 out
JUPITER REX hadn't shown too much before arriving here eight days ago where he attracted support and demolished his rivals who included Bernard, who was 15l back in second. The assessor will have his say but in the meantime a 7lb penalty shouldn't prevent a quick follow-up. The runner-up can hardly be expected to turn the tables though that was only his second start since May 2011 so he should get much closer. Waywood Princess has won twice at Wetherby including when ploughing through the mud at Christmas. Her 8lb rise is negated by Harry Challoner's claim so she can get competitive but Hazy Dawn keeps attracting support without giving her supporters much to cheer and Midnight Lira looks too high in the weights.
Midnight Lira 4-1fav (11-4) Led, headed approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 6th of 11, 30l behind Home Run (10-9) at Exeter 2m 3f cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Jupiter Rex (FR) 5-1 (10-10) Always prominent, led 2 out, ridden between last 2, 6 lengths clear when not fluent last, stayed on well flat, won at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec beating Bernard (10-4) by 15l, 14 ran.
Barton Gift 8-1 (10-13) Held up in mid-division, effort to get in behind leaders 6th, ridden before 4 out, outpaced after next, plugged on to modest 5th last, 5th of 12, 18l behind Seymour Eric (10-11) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Hazy Dawn 6-1 (10-11) Held up and behind, good headway before mistake 3 out, stayed on to 4th last, 4th of 12, 16l behind Seymour Eric (10-11) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
Waywood Princess 6-1 (9-13) Always prominent, challenged 3 out, led after next, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec beating Mini The Minx (10-0) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Bernard 6-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 15l behind Jupiter Rex (10-10) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec.
Kaycee (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) In rear, modest 6th when mistake 10th, tailed off, pulled up before 15th, in a race won by Beware Chalk Pit (11-0) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
