led, not fluent 3rd or 4 out, mistake 3 out, headed and mistake 2 out, soon edged left and beaten, one pace and dropped to 4th flat
chased leaders, went 2nd from 2nd, mistake 3 out, struggling when short of room, lost 2nd and squeezed out soon after, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
chased leader until blundered 2nd, soon in last pair, driven 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, not fluent last, went 3rd flat
in touch on outside, niggled along after 4th and 6th, reminder before next, went 2nd from 2 out, no impression on winner flat
always behind, tailed off from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders on inside, took keen hold, switched left and bumped rival to get through to take 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well
Valleres was second in a Grade 2 at Sandown last month but never looked like winning and the Wetherby winner had failed to land the odds at Ludlow previously. Jeremy Pass’ Wincanton win has been franked with the second successful twice since and he makes more appeal than Buzz De Turcoing and Tupelo Mississippi, the latter making hard work of beating ordinary rivals at Uttoxeter last time. GLADIATEUR ALLEN has run green in both starts to date but wasn’t beaten far in either. He gets 6lb from the previous winners in this and Chester Williams takes off a further 5lb so he may be the value with plenty more to come.
Buzz De Turcoing (FR) 5-2 (11-2) Pulled hard early, chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, mistake 2 out, over 1 length down last, driven and stayed on to lead last 110 yards, won at Haydock 2m 7f mdn (4) hvy in Dec beating Torn And Frayed (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Jeremy Pass (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Prominent, smooth headway to press leader 2out, pushed into lead before last, ridden out flat, won at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov beating Sizable Sam (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Tupelo Mississippi (IRE) 4-7fav (11-0) Prominent, chased leader after 3rd, headway to press leader 3 out, not fluent 3 out, soon pushed along, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, led last, stayed on gamely run-in, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (4) hvy in Dec beating Welsh's Castle (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Valleres (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Held up in 3rd, went 2nd between last 2, mistake last, ridden and no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 8 1/2l behind Star Gate (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Diakosaint (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Last pair, mistake and struggling 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, 29 1/2l behind Art Approval (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.
Gladiateur Allen (FR) 9-4 (11-5) Led, went left 1st and 3rd, stumbled and headed 3 out, soon lost 2nd, hung right and plugged on in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Martinhal (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
