led, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra and lost 3rd close home
close up, tracked leader 3 out, led next, ridden and joined last, headed towards finish
not fluent 1st, tracked leader, weakened quickly 4 out, pulled up next
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place 5 out, pulled up 2 out
in rear, ridden 5 out, weakened and pulled up 3 out
in touch, headway to track leaders 3 out, ridden and every chance last, stayed on gamely to lead towards finish
in touch, not fluent 5 out, ridden and weakened 3 out, hit last
in touch, headway to track leaders 5 out, ridden 2 out, kept on to go 3rd close home
High Roller looks best of Nick Alexander‘s pair and he would have finished closer at Kelso in March but for a last-flight mistake. Sea Prince has been unfortunate not to finish in the money in his last two starts over fences and should make a bold bid to lose his maiden tag back over timber. He has moved yards and may have to play second fiddle to former stablemate DANCE THIEF, who was caught in the closing stages at Carlisle when attempting to concede 26lb to the winner. High Roller may need this after a long absence but Flash Du Pistolet, beaten a short-head at Kelso in October, will find this less daunting than the Grade 2 he ran in at Haydock. Ambush Annie has not shown much and had a run between the flags in October.
Flash Du Pistolet (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place before 2nd, headway on outside 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 30 1/4l behind Kamsinas (11-2) at Haydock 2m (1) gs in Nov.
Dance Thief (IRE) 11-1 (12-0) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and joined at last, driven out, headed close home, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Begoodtoyourself (10-2) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
High Roller (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Prominent, landed awkwardly 2nd but remained close up, still going well when disputed 2 out, chasing leader when hampered at final flight, soon lost second, no extra final 110 yard, 3rd of 7, 7 1/4l behind Ballygeary (11-12) at Kelso 2m (4) sft in Mar.
Toucan Sam 16-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway after 4th, not fluent 6th, led 7th, headed 11th, beaten 3rd when slithered badly on landing 2 out, well beaten after, 6th of 9, 20 1/2l behind Tfou (12-1) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Sea Prince (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Led until 1st, led before 2nd, headed when fell last, at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Beat The Retreat (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Held up in rear, ridden and no impression before 2 out where not fluent, kept on one pace approaching last, 4th of 5, 24 1/2l behind Ballin Bay (10-13) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Am Still Here (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, 8th of 15, dist behind Bugise Seagull (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov.
Ambush Annie (IRE) 6-4 (11-11) Rr of mid-div, 5th by 3rd, left 3rd 3out, clsr in 3l 3rd bef 2out, went 2nd well aftr 2out, mstk last, clsd late, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Shantwopointfive (11-11) at Loughanmore 3m mdn sft in Oct.
