held up, pecked 1st, closed before 3rd, mistake and lost place 4th, behind when pulled up before 6th
held up towards rear on outside, jumped slowly 4th, behind from next, tailed off
disputed lead, 3rd when blundered 3 out, soon beaten, 4th and no impression next
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, blundered and lost place 7th, well beaten after 3 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, lost place after 6th, soon behind, tailed off
held up in rear, in touch 6th, soon ridden, 4th and no impression 2 out, weakened before last
held up, headway 6th, went 3rd 2 out, no impression on front pair, one pace
held up in rear, headway 5th, went 2nd 8th, not fluent 3 out, no impression on winner flat, one pace
made virtually all, jumped right at times, clear flat, stayed on well
Le Bacardy is now 3lb lower than when scoring at Market Rasen in May of last year but he's been woefully out of sorts lately. Owen Na View has also been struggling but this represents a drop in grade and he could be a bit of value if handling the surface. ALL TOGETHER (NAP) looks the obvious choice given he's yet to finish out of the frame over fences and was a wide-margin winner on heavy going at Bangor in November before running very well in a hot novices' handicap at Ascot last month. He's gone up another 3lb since but should be capable of beating Vivaccio off level weights with the latter not really firing at present. Walk In The Mill was well beaten at Chepstow last month and Lanceur failed to shine here on his reappearance but Morning Reggie continues to slip down the weights and should figure.
Laser Hawk (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up, steady headway approaching 4 out, went modest 3rd in closing stages, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Arzal (11-7) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Le Bacardy (FR) 14-1 (11-11) Always behind, 7th of 10, dist behind Javert (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Vivaccio (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, lost place after 2nd, soon towards rear, rallied before 4 out, stayed on to go 3rd approaching last, never a threat, 3rd of 7, 25 3/4l behind Sir Valentino (11-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
All Together (FR) 5-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, 2nd approaching 4 out, challenged next, led as winner blundered 2 out, narrowly headed last, no extra and held inside final 150 yards, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Hollywoodien (10-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Lanceur (FR) 13-8jfav (10-9) Tracked leaders, jumped slightly right early, went 5 lengths 2nd when mistake 2 out, sprawled badly on landing and hacked home in 3rd after, last of 3, dist behind Red Spinner (11-8) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Owen Na View (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Mid-division on inside, hampered 3 out, outpaced and no impression before next, plugged on flat, 5th of 13, 22 1/2l behind Pearls Legend (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Walk In The Mill (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge on outside 10th, ridden and lost place approaching 3 out, clear 3rd and held when left moderate 2nd next, blundered last, 2nd of 5, 34l behind Elenika (11-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Morning Reggie 9-2 (11-3) Jumped baldy left, led, headed, 7th, every chance 4 out and next, no extra from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 12 1/4l behind Quite By Chance (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Big Jim 15-8 (11-12) Pressed winner, hit 4 out, ridden before next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner from 2 out, 2nd of 5, 15l behind Truckers Highway (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
