led until after 3rd, chased leader util pushed along turning in, soon outpaced, weakened quickly and hit last
chased leaders, outpaced before 2 out, rallied before the last, 3rd and well held run-in
chased leaders, went 2nd turning in, led 2 out, soon pushed along, came clear run-in, stayed on well
always behind, outpaced and struggling 5th, tailed off when mistake 3 out
unseated rider prior to start, hung right most of way, always rear-division, tailed off
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, lost touch 3 out, tailed off
raced keenly pressing leader, led after 3rd, slowed badly into next, mistake and headed 2 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner
Hourless went close in a handicap at Stratford last month but Latin Verse was let down by his jumping at Kempton last time and has subsequently switched yards. But UNION FLAG made a winning debut for Donald McCain when scoring easily at Musselburgh earlier in the month and is taken to defy a penalty in this. Common Acclaim finished a long way behind the selection while Torneo debuts for new connections having won on the Flat in France.
Union Flag (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Prominent in chasing group, headway 5th, led before 4 out, clear next, mistake 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Musselburgh 2m (2) gs in Nov beating Ragosina (10-7) by 6l, 9 ran.
Common Acclaim (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up off the pace in 5th, closer at 5th, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 9, 19l behind Union Flag (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m (2) gs in Nov.
Latin Verse 13-2 (11-0) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Gifted Angel (11-10) at Kempton 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Lukla 80-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, well beaten when mistake 3 out, 6th of 8, 29l behind I Still Have Faith (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Mad Mode Ulysses gelding out of Perfect Persuasion.
Red Shield (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, led, went clear after 3rd and jumped badly right after, reduced lead 5th, headed and weakened rapidly before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Musselburgh 2m (2) gs in Nov.
Torneo (FR) 10-11fav (8-13) 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Hamsiyann (8-13) at Tarbes 1m 3f stks sft in Jun.
Hourless 7-4 (10-6) Pressed leader, led 2nd, headed next, led again 4th, pressed bypassing omitted last, headed flat, held close home, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Myristica (12-2) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
