chased leaders, 2nd from 8th, challenged 2 out, led last, ridden out
led, joined 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace flat
chased leaders, not fluent 7th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
held up, not fluent 3rd, closed 6th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, blundered last
held up, closed from 6th, not clear run after 3 out, soon went 3rd, no chance with front pair
tracked leader until 8th, weakened before 3 out, went 4th last
This looks pretty tight but OVERTOWN EXPRESS gets the nod on his recent course and distance success. He beat the progressive Artifice Sivola seven lengths on that occasion and, with the soft going in his favour again, is just preferred to Knockgraffon. The latter won at Newbury before going close at the same track when giving plenty of weight to the winner while Two Taffs also has a shout on his earlier second to Poker School at Kempton on Boxing Day, though he drops back in distance for this. Flying Angel has failed to complete since winning at Perth in September and Chic Name looks up against it on these terms.
Flying Angel (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, struggling 10th, lost touch when pulled up before 4 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov.
Gino Trail (IRE) 13-8fav (11-10) Jumped left, led, mistake 8th and last, driven and headed flat, held close home, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Zamdy Man (11-4) at Hereford 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Knockgraffon (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Raced keenly, tracked leader, awkward 2nd, led 5th, mistake 3 out, ridden after the last, headed and no extra final 150 yards, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Icing On The Cake (10-3) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Overtown Express (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Held up in rear, headway from 6th, 2nd 4 out, led after 2 out, not fluent last, ridden clear, comfortably, won at Warwick 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Artifice Sivola (11-4) by 7l, 6 ran.
Two Taffs (IRE) 1-6fav (10-12) Handy, took keen hold, jumped left 3rd, shaken up after 3 out, driven and no impression on winner when jumped left last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Aminabad (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Jan.
Chic Name (FR) 15-2 (10-9) Led, ridden before 3 out, headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 15 1/4l behind Rock Gone (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 3f (4) gs in Jan.
