held up in rear, took keen hold, headway on inside when not fluent 5th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, closing on 3rd close home, never able to challenge
led and raced freely, jumped left 3rd, headed approaching 5th, led before 3 out, soon headed, led again 2 out until before last, no extra close home
chased leaders, pushed along 3rd, driven after 5th, weakened 3 out
held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well from next, led approaching last, driven out
tracked leader, led approaching 5th until before 3 out, weakened after 3 out
Meridiem got off the mark in a moderate contest here last month but the handicapper may have overreacted in raising Sean Regan's gelding 11lb. Turbo Shandy did a lot better when third at Hereford earlier this week and should go well again while Bagutta Sun probably needed his run at Uttoxeter last month and will also have found the ground softer than ideal. GREAT ESTEEM hasn't raced since finishing fourth at Ffos Las in November but his earlier defeat of Royale's Charter at Wincanton reads well and it may be worth taking a chance on his fitness here.
Great Esteem (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Pulled hard in rear, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 9l behind Mediolanum (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Alfloramoor 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, no impression from 2 out, 5th of 11, 11l behind Cruchain (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Bagutta Sun 33-1 (11-1) Held up in rear on outside, not always fluent, behind 6th, 8th of 11, well behind Tharaya (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Meridiem 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, went 2nd after 5th, led after 3 out, jumped left next and again slightly left last, stayed on well, won at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar beating Graylyn Amber (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
Turbo Shandy 14-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, hampered after last, soon switched left, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Danehillsundance (11-6) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
My Faithful Annie (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Prominent, 3rd halfway, ridden 3 out, weakened before next, 10th of 14, 24l behind Mountain Heather (11-8) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-95 gf in Aug.
Sawago (FR) 16-1 (10-2) Soon with leader, led before 4 out, blundered 3 out, soon headed, weakened before next, 7th of 10, 31l behind Valid Point (10-4) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
