raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
led 1f, tracked leader, every chance well over 1f out, edged left and weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, not clear run on inside until switched right 2f out, good headway on inside over 1f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, just held on, all out
slowly into stride, held up in mid-division, headway when not clear run and switched right well over 1f out, chasing leaders when hung badly left inside final furlong, one pace and lost 3rd close home
dwelt, headway to lead after 1f, ridden and headed well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up in mid-division, headway on wide outside over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd close home, not trouble leading duo
tracked leaders on outside, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, eased final furlong
held up towards rear, short-lived effort on wide outside over 2f out, soon outpaced, never dangerous after
slowly into stride, held up in rear, good headway over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on well towards finish, just failed
refused to race and took no part
NonRunner
Plenty of these have been hurdling including Paddys Runner, though not very successfully. Argent Knight won a handicap here in 2016 and also at Ascot that year but has run moderately for new connections. Jack Bear has been running poorly but is still on a higher mark than his last victory in 2016. Azam won a Kempton maiden for John Gosden just over a year ago but has shown very little subsequently though at a higher level. LADY MAKFI won a handicap here in May 2016 and completed a hat-trick later that summer. She's on the same mark as her last victory and looks the one to be on. Belabour looks a threat as he was beaten just a neck here early last month and didn't get the run of the race on a return visit on Boxing Day.
Tobacco Road (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway on inside to lead after 4th, headed just after 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 15, 33 3/4l behind Our Merlin (11-3) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Jalingo (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, held up towards rear, never on terms, 6th of 7, 12 1/2l behind Noble Behest (9-6) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Jack Bear 11-2cfav (11-7) Held up, ridden 3f out, kept on from over 1f out, never a factor, 5th of 11, 10 1/2l behind Song Light (11-4) at Goodwood 2m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Lady Makfi (IRE) 200-1 (9-3) Held up and always behind, last of 13, 32 3/4l behind Daphne (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 5f lst fll stks (1) pol in Nov.
Takbeer (IRE) 28-1 (9-3) Edged right start, keen headway to lead after 1f, soon clear, reduced lead over 2f out, headed entering final 2f, weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 5 3/4l behind Captain Navarre (9-10) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Azam 7-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden and no impression 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 8 3/4l behind Sunblazer (10-0) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Paddys Runner 8-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, mistake 7th, soon well beaten, 6th of 10, 34 1/4l behind Fixed Rate (10-13) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Methag (FR) 9-1 (11-6) With leader, led from 3rd, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 13 1/4l behind Cougar Kid (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Belabour 9-4fav (9-1) Close up, ridden and hampered over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 19 1/2l behind Ocean Of Love (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Rite To Reign 14-1 (9-4) Slow into stride in rear, ridden 2f out, never nearer, 6th of 9, 13 1/4l behind Ocean Of Love (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Sandy Cove 12-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear and keen, ridden and headway before 3 out, one pace and no impression, 5th of 7, 19l behind Royal Beekeeper (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Argent Knight 40-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, blundered 7 out, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Thorpe (11-10) at Musselburgh 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
