in touch, wide and headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong
raced wide close up, tracked leader over 6f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
towards rear, pushed along 2f out, never on terms
close up, pushed along and headway over 1f out, switched left entering final furlong, kept on one pace
close up, pushed along 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway inside final furlong, ran on, nearest finish
keen led, headed 7f out, tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders over 6f out, pushed along and weakened over 1f out
dwelt in touch, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong
dwelt and switched left start, in rear, never on terms
dwelt headway to lead 7f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong
raced wide in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
NonRunner
Hooflepuff has already won three times around here this year and Dragons Will Rise was successful here in March and has won twice since at Pontefract. But it could be argued that FITWOOD STAR still has the potential to be better than a Class 5 handicapper. Roger Teal’s five-year-old has improved with every run and, though it is more than a year since he completed a hat-trick at Chelmsford, he is a dual course and distance winner. Starfighter is far more exposed but he has gone well here in the past and also won on Tapeta at Newcastle.
Fitwood Star 9-4fav (9-7) Held up in last pair, hampered over 6f out, headway and wide on home turn, chased leaders over 1f out, went 2nd and hung left inside final furlong, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Bay Of Naples (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Starfighter 9-2 (9-7) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 9 1/4l behind Jaramillo (9-7) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Mythical Madness 100-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders out wide, pushed along over 3f out, soon lost place, last of 13, 22 1/2l behind Athers (8-6) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Dragons Will Rise (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Mid-division, going well over 2f out, pushed along 2f out, headway between rivals 1f out, kept on final furlong, headed leader close home, won at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in Jun beating Thorntoun Care (9-9) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Stiletto 15-8jfav (9-3) Led, extended advantage travelling strongly over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, faded close home, 4th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Law Of The Sea (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Jan.
Hooflepuff (IRE) 13-8fav (9-8) Chased leaders, nudged along over 3f out, pushed along to lead over 1f out, hung left and ridden 1f out, ran on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Melakaz (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Bavardages (IRE) 7-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, riddden and outpaced at 3f, made no impression, 4th of 12, 5 3/4l behind End Zone (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Tacitus (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Mid-division, switched right and effort over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 3 3/4l behind Hover (9-9) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Star Of Valour (IRE) 22-1 (9-5) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway out wide chasing leaders 3f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden to challenge over 1f out,, 4th of 13, 2 3/4l behind Shining Aitch (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
First Dance (IRE) 40-1 (8-9) Slow into stride, tracked stand side leader, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, last of 8, 18 1/4l behind Wild Lion (9-3) at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Rockets Red Glare (IRE) 33-1 (9-6) Led, pushed along and headed 3f out, soon lost 2nd, hung right and weakened final 2f, 5th of 8, 10 1/4l behind Casilli (10-0) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp (5) gs in May.
Elixsoft (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Slowly away, raced keenly towards rear, pushed along 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 3l behind Hooflepuff (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Billy Roberts (IRE) 13-2 (9-2) Mid-division, niggled along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 7th of 13, 5 3/4l behind Tio Mio (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
