held up in touch, blundered 7th, left 4th next, left 3rd 4 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, always held by front pair
led, blundered 1st, headed 3rd, tracked leaders, 3rd when fell heavily 4 out
in rear, mistake 2nd, struggling 6th, mistake next, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders to 5th, struggling and reminders after next, left modest 4th 4 out, kept on approaching next, held when fell 2 out
with leaders, led after 4th, made rest, clear before 4 out, ridden after 2 out, 5 lengths advantage last, held on towards finish
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, under pressure in 4th when blundered and unseated rider 8th
with leader, led 3rd until after next, tracked winner, mistake 6th, outpaced 4 out, ridden after 2 out, 5 lengths down in 2nd last, stayed on well flat, gaining towards finish, just held
held up towards rear when fell 2nd
Grey Life has been quite highly tried in two runs this winter but he does have ground to make up on both Sleepy Haven and Uno Valoroso on their run together at Wetherby. The latter was only beaten two lengths by Cloudy Joker over course and distance last time and is now 3lb better off, though Donald McCain's chaser is two from two around here. Mr Burbidge was only beaten a length at Newbury but has been rewarded by a 6lb rise in the weights. CRAFTY ROBERTO has never won over fences but has done enough to suggest his turn can't be far away. He's been dropped a further pound since his latest third at Lingfield and today could be his day.
Grey Life 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, under pressure before 4 out, soon weakened, last of 6, 24 1/2l behind Clan William (10-0) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Mr Burbidge 8-1 (11-10) Led until narrowly headed after 3rd, pressed leader, led again and pecked 9th, ridden before 2 out, 1 length ahead last, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Exmoor Mist (11-2) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Vodka Wells (FR) 10-3fav (11-9) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, chased leaders when mistake 3 out, soon outpaced, well held from next, 5th of 8, 13 1/4l behind Chestnut Ben (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Sleepy Haven (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, lost touch 9th, soon beaten, left in modest 4th 3 out, 4th of 6, dist behind Morney Wing (10-13) at Haydock 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Cloudy Joker (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Made all, driven clear 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, held on well towards finish, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Uno Valoroso (11-5) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Crafty Roberto 3-1 (11-12) Pecked 1st, tracked leader, led after 3rd until 4 out, pushed along and no impression when lost 2nd before 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Sea Wall (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Uno Valoroso (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 10th, driven and one pace in 3rd before last, ridden flat, stayed on to regain 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Cloudy Joker (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Gin Cobbler 22-1 (10-7) Led until last, weakened on extended run-in, 4th of 6, 9 1/4l behind Nautical Twilight (11-0) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
