in touch, headway 5th to tracked leaders, pushed along 2 out, ridden and kept on to go 2nd flat
tracked leaders, hit 4th, pushed along 2 out, weakened next
close up, ridden to chase winner last, no extra and lost 2nd flat
tracked leader, led 2 out, ridden out
raced wide keen, tracked leaders, in touch 4th, dropped to rear and not fluent next, soon pulled up
led, pushed along and headed 2 out, weakened next
in rear, pulled up 2 out
Eagle Prince beat Latin Verse at Sedgefield and would have finished closer last time in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham but for a couple of significant errors. Midnight Lion won over 1m6f on the Flat but is being pitched in at the deep end here. The prolific Max Of Stars was second in this grade at Newbury last week but LIARI has much more scope having easily landed the odds at Wincanton. Huntingdon second Palio and French import Le Fauve are other likely improvers with the latter preferred to stablemate and Fakenham winner Virginia Lodge while Knight Of Allen should be monitored for any market support.
Knight Of Allen (FR) 22-1 (11-0) Ion touch when badly hampered 1st and carried out, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Latin Verse 3-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd turning in, led 2 out, soon pushed along, came clear run-in, stayed on well, won at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Nov beating Torneo (11-0) by 4 1/4l, 7 ran.
Le Fauve (FR) 5-1 (10-10) 2nd of 7, shd behind Anzadam (10-10) at Bordeaux Le Bouscat 2m sft in Sep.
Liari (FR) 4-5fav (11-0) Prominent, hit 3rd, went second after 3 out, going best but not fluent 2 out, soon led on landing, ran on strongly run-in, pushed out, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) sft in Oct beating Inside Man (11-0) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Midnight Lion 10-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, not much room over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 17 3/4l behind Lordship (8-13) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Palio (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, pushed along home turn, not fluent 2 out, kept on, no match for facile winner, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Burdett Road (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Max Of Stars (FR) 4-1 (11-3) Keen hung left, led, ridden and joined last, soon headed, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Wodhooh (11-0) at Newbury 2m lst fll (1) gs in Dec.
Virginia Lodge 9-1 (11-0) Pressed leader, led before 2 out, soon forged clear, pushed along before last, kept on, readily, won at Fakenham 2m fll (4) gs in Nov beating Francina (11-0) by 11l, 5 ran.
Eagle Prince (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) In touch, headway 3 out, ridden and mistake last, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 12 1/2l behind Burdett Road (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Galactic Jack (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Badly hampered 1st and pushed through rail, soon in rear, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up last, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
