held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 3 out, kept on run-in, shared 3rd post
raced keenly tracking leaders, closer in 2nd at 5th, led 3 out, came clear between last 2, easily
held up in 6th, steady headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd at the last, next, kept on same pace run in, no chance with winner
held up in 5th on inside, weakened before 3 out
tracked leader until approaching 3rd, remained handy, 2nd again approaching 2 out, well held between last 2, lost 2nd at the last, joined for 3rd post
led until after 3rd, chased leader until 5th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out
raced keenly, led after 3rd until 3 out, lost 2nd approaching next, weakened soon after
Withdrawn
NonRunner
STORM RISING (NAP) turned a competitive handicap at Cheltenham last week into a procession and, as that was a conditionals’ race, escapes a penalty. He’s been on the go for while but is impossible to oppose if running up that level here. Blue Hussar goes well here and isn’t badly handicapped so could run well at a price. Eskendash is a consistent sort who won on the Flat in the summer and Apterix was only reeled in close home at Sedgefield last time after winning at the same track earlier. Silva Eclipse still has scope and will be interesting once the ground turns but Sleepy Haven became hard to place last season. Dino Velvet won at Ayr at the end of last season but remains 8lb higher.
Eskendash (USA) 5-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, switched left over 3f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 6 1/4l behind Matewan (8-6) at Beverley 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Storm Rising (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Always handy, led 2 out, drew clear last, heavily eased towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Magic Dancer (11-7) by 4l, 16 ran.
Cornborough 12-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, led inside final furlong, soon clear, won at Chester 1m 2f hcp (4) sft in Sep beating Instant Attraction (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Sleepy Haven (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Led, soon clear, mistake 2nd, reduced lead 3rd, headed before 6th, hanging left and well held when losing 3rd before 2 out, mistake last, 7th of 10, 25 1/4l behind William Of Orange (10-6) at Haydock 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Apterix (FR) 5-2 (10-6) Tracked leader 1st, led last, hard ridden run-in, headed near finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind High Expectations (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Blue Hussar (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Mid-division, headway on outside tracking leaders inside final mile, pushed along over 4f out, ridden 2f out, hung left and weakened over 1f out, 6th of 15, 7l behind Arrowtown (9-5) at York 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Crushed (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Keen in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 11th of 13, 21 1/2l behind Bayston Hill (9-8) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Dino Velvet (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, went 2nd from 4 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra before last, 4th of 7, 10l behind Oskar Denarius (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in May.
Silva Eclipse 7-4fav (11-3) Held up in touch, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, last of 8, dist behind Sakhee's City (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
