mostly raced in 3rd, went 2nd briefly 9th, ridden and no extra after 2 out, lost modest 3rd towards finish
tracked leader, led after 2nd, came wide in home straight, ridden before the last where 2 lengths ahead and not fluent, narrowly headed run-in, stayed on and rallied towards finish
led until after 2nd, mostly chased leader after until dropped to 3rd briefly 9th, not clear run on near side rail and switched left approaching 2 out, 2 lengths down last, stayed on under pressure to lead run-in, held on
held up in 5th, 4th and beaten after 3 out, plugged on run-in, went modest 3rd towards finish
held up in rear, closer at approaching 3rd, pushed along and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
jumped slowly 3rd and dropped to rear, hit 6th, jumped slowly and struggling next, tailed off and pulled up before 8th
Starsky reverted to hurdles to win a handicap at Doncaster in November but he pulled up at the same track last month and is giving 5lb and upwards to his rivals here, less Tristran Durrell’s claim. BEST TRITION was beaten seven lengths over this trip at Carlisle but stamina clearly isn’t an issue and Gearoid Harney takes off 10lb again so he can get the better of Carlisle winner Gredin, who isn’t certain to stay on breeding, and the Market Rasen debut winner Guerlain De Vaux.
Starsky (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, soon pushed along, weakened after next, pulled up before 2 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Gredin (FR) 16-5 (11-4) Led, jumped slowly 3rd, mistake and reminder next, headed 2 out, weakened between last two, 5th of 8, 21 1/4l behind Mucho Mas (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f (3) gs in Dec.
Guerlain De Vaux (FR) 22-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 2 out, ridden to lead run in, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec beating Lounge Lizard (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Best Trition (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Handy, pressed leader before 2 out, ridden and led narrowly final flight, soon strongly pressed, headed 1f out on run-in, no extra, 2nd of 5, 7l behind The Real Whacker (11-4) at Carlisle 3m 1f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Sir Jim (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) In touch, pushed along 6f out, behind final 4f out, 6th of 9, dist behind Mr Glass (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (5) hvy in Dec.
Isla Diamonds 200-1 (10-5) In rear, awkward 1st, jumped right 2nd and 3rd, well adrift when awkward 4th and ridden, tailed off when pulled up before 6th, at Southwell 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.