held up in mid-division, headway 5th, led 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon headed, not much room and switched left flat, no impression towards finish
in rear, not fluent 3rd, well beaten before 3 out, mistake 2 out
held up, headway 6th, stayed on same pace from 3 out
led until 6th, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, lost place after 3rd, struggling 5th, well held after
chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, soon led, edged right flat, stayed on well
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, soon went 2nd, led 6th, mistake and headed 3 out, mistake last, kept on
always towards rear
chased leader until after 3rd, lost place after 6th, soon well behind
Flamboyant Joyaux and DUBLIN FOUR are both interesting on their handicap debuts with the latter just preferred. Ilaya won very easily at Newcastle after a couple of below-par efforts but Show And Go returns from a break and, like Xpo Universel, looks fully exposed. Serious Ego only managed one win for Gordon Elliott and has a first run since July having switched stables but the three-year-old Uncle Norman has no weight to speak of and could go well.
Dublin Four (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Chased leader, led 4 out, headed after 2 out, mistake last, no extra, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Jelski (10-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f (4) hvy in Nov.
Serious Ego (GER) 9-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 9, 19l behind Lucky Robin (11-2) at Perth 2m hcp (3) gs in Jul.
Ilaya (FR) 7-1 (12-3) Held up, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, led before 2 out, drew clear, easily, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec beating Calliope (11-1) by 9l, 12 ran.
Xpo Universel (FR) 40-1 (11-4) Led until after 2 out, no extra last, 4th of 9, 13 3/4l behind Masters Apprentice (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Show And Go (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Led, mistake 2 out, soon headed, weakened before last, 4th of 7, 18l behind Rakhine State (11-10) at Stratford 2m 3f (5) gd in Jul.
Flamboyant Joyaux (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Pressed winner, not fluent 3rd, lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 6, 26l behind Barrowlands (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Let's Sway 20-1 (11-4) Pressed winner, ridden and every chance 4 out, weakened approaching last, 10th of 13, 35l behind Justice Knight (10-8) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Pepper Street (IRE) 50-1 (9-12) Mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, never on terms, weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 13 3/4l behind Mon Frere (9-9) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp (6) pol in Aug.
Uncle Norman (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Hit 1st, mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and headway under pressure after next, stayed on, not reach leaders, 4th of 16, 3 1/2l behind Scorched Earth (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Nov.