held up and always towards rear, pulled up before last
chased leaders until 4th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
led until 3 out, ridden and one pace from next
mid-division until 4th, soon well behind, pulled up after 3 out
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden and headway after 3 out, one pace from next
held up towards rear, blundered 5th, some late headway under pressure, never a factor
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, headed next, rallied under pressure flat, no extra close home
always behind
chased leaders until 5th, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, edged left approaching last, kept on gamely
in touch until 4th
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, hit next, soon driven along, no impression
chased leaders, led 3 out, soon ridden and headed, kept on same pace
Like a lot of the stable's horses The Castilian has disappointed of late and Martin Pipe's representative is probably best watched with a safer bet looking to be Sweet Oona, who is preferred to Return Home. The selection has improved with each start, including in this grade last time, and a reproduction of that last time out effort may suffice. The Phillip Hobbs-trained Silver City looks plenty high enough in the weights at present, while Paul Keane's Esplendidos has given little sign of encouragement of late. Top weight No Way Back faces no easy task giving weight away all round, while Twist Bookie looks to have plenty of weight for what he has achieved and of more interest may be recent Warwick winner Return Home, although a 7lb penalty leaves him with more to do. Sweet Oona has an obvious chance though and she gets the vote under conditions that should suit ideally.
No Way Back (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Raced wide throughout, held up towards rear, headway 6th, stayed on flat, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Dearson (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (E) sft in Dec.
Simonovski (USA) 66-1 (11-4) Mid-division, mistake and weakened 5th, tailed off when mistake 2 out, 13th of 19, 45l behind Not Left Yet (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gs in Nov.
Twist Bookie (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, chased leader after 5 until after 3 out, 5th of 14, 15l behind Arry Dash (10-12) at Fakenham 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Dec.
Meadow Hawk (USA) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden 4th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Green Iceni (11-6) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Nobelmann (GER) 33-1 (10-12) In touch, chased winner 3 out until ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 9th of 19, 17l behind Nous Voila (11-4) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Silver City 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened before last, 9th of 18, 22l behind Gustavo (9-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Dec.
Sweet Oona (FR) 4-1fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Ishka Baha (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gd in Dec.
Shaamit The Vaamit (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Prominent, led after 4th, mistake 6th, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 7th of 9, 36l behind Piran (10-8) at Warwick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl (F) sft in Dec.
Sharp Rally (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Held up, headway when hit 2 out, never near leaders, 6th of 15, 30l behind Circassian (11-0) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Esplendidos (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden after 6th, weakening in 3rd when not fluent 3 out, 3rd of 7, 33l behind Novacella (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f mrs hcp hdl (E) gd in Dec.
Return Home 15-8fav (11-5) Held up, headway approaching 4th to track leaders, ridden after 2 out, hard ridden after last, led post, won at Warwick 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (F) sft in Dec beating Herecomestanley (11-1) by a hd, 14 ran.
Able Charlie (GER) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leader and keen, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 13l behind Astronomical (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Dec.
The Castilian (FR) 14-1 (10-2) Behind, mistake 3rd, tailed off 3 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Green Iceni (11-6) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Sunset King (USA) 50-1 (10-4) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 17, 16l behind Ishka Baha (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gd in Dec.
