mid-division on outside, not fluent 3rd, slow and weakened 5th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
led, 3 lengths clear before last, driven flat, headed towards finish
raced keenly, chased leader, not fluent 3rd, mistake 4th, mistake 3 out, soon lost 2nd, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division on inside, raced keenly, not fluent 2nd, steadied before next, jumped left 3 out, went 5th before 2 out, no chance with leaders
raced keenly, held up in rear, mistake 3rd, behind 5th, pulled up
mid-division, closed from 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, 3 lengths down before last, stayed on well flat, led towards finish
held up towards rear, headway on outside 4th, went 2nd after 3 out until 2 out, 3rd and beaten last, no extra
mid-division, soon in touch, lost place after 4th, well beaten from next
Several of these won on the Flat and could be useful recruits to the jumping game. Gary Moore won this last year with Goshen and saddles both Casa Loupi and Tenfold. Punctuation stayed 1m6f on the level but the going may be an issue for Stepney Causeway. Vulcan won twice at Haydock last year on ground with some give but TRITONIC might be a stronger stayer. A Triumph Hurdle entry, Alan King’s gelding was placed in Listed company as a three-year-old and fourth off a rating of 99 at Newmarket in October. He is the one to beat if transferring that form to hurdling.
Blue Slate (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 1st, not fluent 2nd, towards rear when hit 3 out, well beaten and hanging right after 2 out, tailed off, last of 8, dist behind Adagio (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) sft in Dec.
Casa Loupi 7-2jfav (9-6) Mid-division, nudged along 3f out, wide on bend, ran on well inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, nk behind Caribeno (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Hooroo (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 8th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Alborkan (9-9) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
Punctuation 10-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 12f out until driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 14 1/2l behind Prince Alex (8-4) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Salamanca School (FR) 2-1fav (9-3) Led, went clear 5f out until came back to the field over 3f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, no chance with winner, kept on for 2nd, 2nd of 9, 13l behind Elham Valley (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 3f stks (4) gs in Aug.
Stepney Causeway 7-1 (9-3) Went left start, keen early, held up, switched right and effort over 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, pressed winner inside final furlong, edged left, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind King Ragnar (9-7) at Leicester 7f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Tenfold (IRE) 66-1 (9-3) Held up, pushed along over 2f out, kept on, never nearer, 5th of 9, 9 3/4l behind Wait For The Lord (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (5) pol in Dec.
Tritonic 20-1 (9-5) Close up, ridden over 2f out, effort over 1f out, stayed on one pace, 4th of 17, 5 3/4l behind Kingbrook (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Vulcan (IRE) 15-8fav (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair, ridden and plugged on final 2f, 4th of 7, 4l behind Lunar Jet (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Sarceaux (FR) 150-1 (10-5) Prominent, left in lead bend after 2nd, headed before next, close up 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 12, 26 1/2l behind Heross Du Seuil (10-12) at Kempton 2m (2) sft in Dec.
