prominent, every chance 4 out, weakened next
led, headed 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, led 3 out, headed last, one pace
prominent, led last, kept on well
with leaders, weakened 3 out
always towards rear
towards rear, one pace 2 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, pushed along 4th, soon weakened
Inch High is in good form and is taken to defy another rise in the weights and confirm his superiority over Soubriquet, while Stormy Lord can also go well. The selection has now gone up 22lb for two comfortable successes, the latter by six lengths from Soubriquet. Although that rival has a 5lb pull here he perhaps doesn't have as much scope for further improvement. That said, this will be tough enough for the selection now but he loves bottomless ground and this track and so he still has plenty going for him. Stormy Lord has won from marks much higher than the 99 he runs off here, and he is also a previous c&d scorer. Now 12 years old he is clearly vulnerable and he has never won on ground worse than soft, so he is opposed. Prince Linamix probably handles any ground, although perhaps he is more at home when he has a sound surface. In any case he has gone up 4lb for finishing second last time and he will have his work cut out. Sinatas will handle conditions but does not look wonderfully well treated for this handicap debut and Inch High is the one to be on.
Soubriquet (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 5th, chased winner from 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Inch High (10-10) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Inch High 16-1 (10-10) Made all, ridden after 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan beating Soubriquet (11-2) by 6l, 13 ran.
Sinatas (GER) 15-8fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, 4th of 16, 6l behind Silver By Nature (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Prince Linamix (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Led, hit 3rd, ridden and not fluent 3 out, headed 2 out, led again last, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 20, 1/2l behind Random Native (11-9) at Doncaster 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.
Stormy Lord (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Led, soon clear, ridden approaching 2 out, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Miss Pross (10-10) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Charlie Tango (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, effort 3 out, never dangerous, 9th of 13, 31l behind Inch High (10-10) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Wise Choice 50-1 (11-2) Always behind, 11th of 18, 35l behind Pelo Du Bief (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
The Weaver (FR) 150-1 (10-0) Always behind, tailed off 5th, last of 7, well behind Astarador (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs.
Gunadoir (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Behind, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Sarrococca (11-8) at Wetherby 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Dec, 17 ran.
