tracked leaders, tracked leader 2 out, led last, ridden out
in touch, outpaced 4 out, ridden and headway approaching last, kept on same pace
in touch, ridden 2 out, soon weakened
raced wide, bumped 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
in rear, pushed along and headway 2 out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd flat
close up, pushed along 2 out, weakened next, tailed off
tracked leader, led 4th, ridden and headed last, no extra and lost 2nd flat
towards rear, pulled up 2 out
keen in touch, jumped right and bumped rival 4 out, weakened and pulled up 2 out
led, headed 4th, tracked leader until ridden 2 out, soon weakened
NonRunner
BENSON easily beat Holmes St Georges over this trip at Musselburgh at the start of the year and is only 3lb worse off. He later won the prestigious Morebattle at Kelso and had excuses when tried over fences at Carlisle on his reappearance. Chance A Tune is a consistent sort who is race-fit but the handicapper may have finally reeled in Fingal's Hill. Bashers Reflection and Rafferty's Return are closely matched on Wetherby running and Sonigino has an excellent strike-rate, though is another who is possibly in the assessor’s grip at present. Vicki Vale will have come on a bundle for her second at Wincanton and Irish raider Prince Zaltar also has a squeak.
Sonigino (FR) 11-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway out wide chasing leaders before 4 out, driven and stayed on same pace in 4th run-in, 4th of 15, 9l behind Iberico Lord (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Benson 17-2 (11-10) Held up, pushed along before 4 out, outpaced before 3 out, gradually weakened from 2 out, 4th of 7, 17l behind Nells Son (11-1) at Carlisle 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Fingal's Hill (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, hanging left and well held before 2 out, 7th of 10, 20l behind Park Annonciade (10-3) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Holmes St Georges (FR) 5-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd almost throughout, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no impression on leaders next, kept on same pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Bella Bliss (11-3) at Down Royal 3m Yielding in May.
Prince Zaltar (FR) 40-1 (11-8) Towards rear, slightly hampered by faller at 4th, headway before the last, ridden and stayed on run-in, never going pace of leading duo, 6th of 20, 6 3/4l behind American Sniper (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Bashers Reflection 10-3fav (10-12) Mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders after 4 out, 2nd before next, led on bit 2 out, ridden out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov beating Molly Ollys Wishes (12-1) by 4 3/4l, 10 ran.
Vicki Vale (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, headway tracking leaders 4 out, pushed along in 3rd before next, soon 2nd, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Good Look Charm (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Voix Du Reve (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway when bad mistake out wide and nearly unseated rider 3 out, no chance after, last of 9, 19l behind Matchless (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Largy Shark 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, pushed along after 2 out and 7th approaching last, no impression run-in, kept on one pace, 6th of 20, 21l behind Fortunedefortunata (11-5) at Navan 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Chance A Tune (FR) 12-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, pushed along and outpaced home turn, rallied into modest 4th before the last, kept on, 4th of 12, 13 1/2l behind Knickerbockerglory (11-2) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Rafferty's Return 6-1 (11-9) Led until 3rd, chased leader, led again 6th, dived next, headed 4 out, chased leader until ridden before next, plugged on in well held 3rd, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Bashers Reflection (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
