held up towards rear, steady headway under pressure before 3 out, stayed on to press leaders 2 out, led before last, stayed on flat, headed close home
close up, restrained behind leaders 4th, lost ground 15th, in rear 16th, detached 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
led, headed after 1st but close up, almost upsides 4 out, led narrowly 2 out, headed but still close up before last, no extra flat
held up in midfield, headway 14th, ridden before 16th, close up 4 out, lost ground 2 out, switched left before last, stayed on strongly to lead close home
held up in midfield, rapid headway when ridden before 2 out, close up last, one pace flat
prominent, dropped to midfield 6th, mistake 11th, pushed along after 14th and some headway, ridden 15th, still in touch 2 out, weakened and pulled up before last
held up towards rear, awkward 4th, not fluent 12th, ridden before 15th, some headway before 3 out, one pace from before 2 out
close up, led 2nd, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, mistake and fell 11th
NonRunner
Regal Encore was only beaten a head in this last year and is 10lb lower. The 14-year-old won this race in 2018 and was third 12 months later and has had wind surgery since last seen but a fourth course victory may be beyond him. Cobolobo returned to form when just collared here last month while Larry won a Grade 3 here in October. Caribean Boy beat the classy Fiddlerontheroof over 2m4f at Newbury last season and is 6lb better off. He won over 3m at Kempton last month to prove his stamina with Fortescue also arriving in good form. ASK ME EARLY got the better off Hold That Taught at Chepstow just over a year ago and is only a pound worse off, even though Harry Fry’s grey has improved since. He can keep up an impressive strike-rate if running here rather than at Wincanton.
Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked front group, pushed along and left in 3rd 4 out, went clear with winner before 2 out, stayed on well, closing at finish but always held, 2nd of 21, 1/2l behind Cloudy Glen (10-8) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Caribean Boy (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Raced in mainly close 2nd, pressed leader 3 out, pushed along and disputed lead 2 out, soon ridden and headed, good jump and led last, ran on well run-in, won at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Smarty Wild (10-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Truckers Lodge (IRE) 28-1 (10-10) Prominent, pushed along before 5 out, pressed leader 5 out, ridden before 4 out, bad mistake 4 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 20, 16l behind Iwilldoit (10-0) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Fortescue 16-1 (10-4) Mid division, headway to track leaders home turn, ridden and outpaced 4 out, plugged on from 3 out, stayed on strongly from last to go 3rd, 3rd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Royale Pagaille (11-10) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Regal Encore (IRE) 18-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden before 3 out, hit 3 out, weakened quickly soon after, 8th of 13, dist behind Annsam (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Sojourn (IRE) 15-2 (10-10) Off the pace in 3rd, went 2nd at 12th, pushed along in 3rd before 2 out where went badly left and bumped, weakened quickly and pulled up before last, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Larry 22-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders on inside, hit 13th outpaced and lost place, rallied before 2 out, went modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 7, 17 1/2l behind Phoenix Way (10-7) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Cobolobo (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Led, stumbled badly 13th, ridden and hit last, strongly pressed run-in, lost on the nod, 2nd of 10, shd behind Cat Tiger (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Hold That Taught 9-2 (11-7) Held up in last trio, headway chasing leaders 11th, hit 13th, went remote 3rd run-in, 3rd of 6, 33 1/4l behind Fantastikas (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 7f (2) hvy in Jan.
Ask Me Early (IRE) 11-10fav (11-4) Raced prominently, led 3 out, extended advantage 2 out travelling powerfully, clear before last, eased down closing stages, easily, only finisher, won at Chepstow 3m (3) gs in Dec.
