in rear, ridden before 2 out, headway before last, weakened run-in
led, reminders and headed before 6th, remained close up, reminders before 8th, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders on outer, led before 6th, ridden and pressed before last, just held on
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 8th, every chance 2 out, one pace and lost 3rd towards finish
held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
with leader, pushed along before 7th, soon outpaced, kept on to take 3rd towards finish
held up towards rear, headway to go 3rd before 2 out, chased winner before last, kept on and just held close home
TOP BILLING looked right back to form at Kelso and Nicky Richards' four-year-old would be the one to beat with a similar performance. It's unusual to see a three-year-old in a handicap but though Aficionado won a Sedgefield maiden in September it was on very fast ground. Dickie Henderhoop has now gone 30 races without winning but was unlucky over this course and distance last month when falling at the last while leading. To add insult to injury he's been raised 5lb for his troubles. Neither Radio Nowhere nor stablemate Goodacres Garden have shown much to date and Captain Clayton looks high enough on what he's achieved.
Captain Clayton (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 33l behind Seebright (11-11) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Apr.
Radio Nowhere (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon struggling, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Flemenson (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Dickie Henderhoop (IRE) 6-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden to challenge 2 out, narrow lead when fell last, in a race won by Finding Your Feet (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Oct, 9 ran.
Oscar Lateen (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, went poor 5th 3 out, never dangerous, 6th of 11, well behind Kilgefin Star (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Top Billing 16-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, pushed along and headway, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Capital Venture (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
Goodacres Garden (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) Led until after 1st, prominent, not fluent 4th, pushed along approaching 6th, not fluent 7th, lost place before 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Count Guido Deiro (11-1) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) sft in Mar.
Aficionado 15-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, lost place when not fluent 5th, well beaten after 3 out, plugged on flat, 5th of 8, 18l behind Estinaad (10-8) at Perth 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs in Sep.
