chased leaders on inside, outpaced approaching 2 out, never able to challenge, weakened flat
brought down 1st
raced wide, behind, not fluent 3rd, headway into mid-division next, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next
mid-division, headway and in touch 4th, chased leader after 3 out, every chance next, soon ridden, stayed on to press winner flat, held near finish
fell 1st
tracked leader, led after 3 out, headed approaching next, kept on same pace, no impression before last
tracked leaders, headway to lead approaching 2 out, ridden after last, held on under pressure flat
tracked leaders, 4th and outpaced when mistake 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
hampered badly 1st, towards rear, outpaced 3 out, never near leaders
mid-division, chased leaders before 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression
led, headed after 3 out, lost place before next, soon outpaced, ridden and stayed on well flat
chased leaders to 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
brought down 1st
A pretty modest opener in which you can probably put a line through most of those near the bottom of the handicap. Emirate Isle bounced back to form at Sedgefield when clear of third Stanley Bridge but is 8lb higher now, while Endeavor was only third in a seller over C&D last month. Bunratty has claims on his second at Ayr but it would be no surprise to see WITHOUT EQUAL step up on previous efforts now tackling handicaps. Martin Todhunter's mare won twice on the Flat and has been gradually getting her act together over timber.
Emirate Isle 10-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, soon ridden, 2 lengths clear when not fluent last, kept on flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft beating Langley (11-11) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Bunratty (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Tracked leader, led before 5th, headed before 3 out, outpaced before 2 out, rallied before last, kept on to take 2nd close home, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Carters Rest (10-7) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Without Equal 28-1 (10-5) Chased leader until 6th, soon pushed along, weakened 4 out, behind and tailed off when hit 3 out, 5th of 8, 41l behind D'Gigi (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Hammer 4-1 (10-11) Towards rear, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 11, 29l behind Truckers Princess (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Waltham Abbey 9-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, outpaced approaching 3 out, chased leading trio before next, ridden and stayed on well flat, took 3rd post, 3rd of 13, 1l behind King's Chorister (10-0) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
Ancient Times (USA) 8-1 (10-1) Always in rear, 6th of 7, well behind Amir Pasha (10-11) at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Endeavor 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along 5th, headway under pressure approaching 2out, soon ridden and effort, one pace when mistake last, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Cityar (10-13) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Stanley Bridge 4-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, driven and outpaced after 3 out, weakened from next, 3rd of 8, 24l behind Emirate Isle (10-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
Jamaddji 66-1 (9-10) Always behind, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Dunowen Point (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) gd in May.
Itstooearly 9-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Stanley Bridge (9-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Dance Sauvage 7-1 (10-6) Tracked leader, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 11, 40l behind Truckers Princess (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Deny 150-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, weakening when blundered 2 out, 7th of 16, 45l behind Star In Flight (11-6) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Dec.
Knickerbokerglory 100-1 (10-13) Led, headed and weakened quickly 3 out, last of 10, 42l behind Koup De Kanon (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Simplified 22-1 (10-0) Behind, pushed along after 4th, hit 6th, soon detatched, behind when pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Fly Town (10-2) at Fakenham 2m mdn chs (5) sft, 6 ran.
Fred Grass 66-1 (9-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, blundered next, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Stanley Bridge (9-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
