raced keenly, chased leader until hampered 6th, still close 3rd 2 out, soon outpaced and beaten, weakened approaching last
raced wide, chased leaders, not fluent 1st, steadied next, closed 3rd, left in lead 6th, headed 7th, led 2 out, not fluent last, edged left flat, comfortably
held up in rear, hit 5th, hampered next, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, left 2nd 6th, led next, headed 2 out, held flat, kept on
led until fell 6th
chased leaders, raced wide, not fluent and lost place 5th, not fluent 8th, soon weakened
The front-running MINELLA PLUS won easily here and at Musselburgh before returning to the latter track to make a successful handicap debut. He's 5lb higher but has had a break and can complete a four-timer. Enfin Phil is receiving 12lb and made most in a race run at a crawl at Sedgefield where he never really looked like getting caught by runner-up Sheriff Garrett, who will be 4lb worse off. Golfe Clair won at Clonmel in June and was in touch when unseating at Tramore a month later. He made a winning start at Sedgefield for Philip Kirby before a disappointing run at the same track which wasn't his form.
Minella Plus (IRE) 2-1 (11-6) Disputed lead until soon after 3rd, tracked leader, led 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Auditoria (10-6) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Mick Maestro (FR) 6-1 (10-3) Mid division, pushed along and dropped to rear home turn, well beaten 2 out, 6th of 7, 25 1/2l behind Tommy's Oscar (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Big Bad Bear (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 5th of 8, 23 1/2l behind Sultans Pride (10-13) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Golfe Clair (FR) 11-4 (11-5) Tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, lost place from 2 out, plugged on, 5th of 8, 22l behind Father John (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Sep.
Sheriff Garrett (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Pressed winner until ridden approaching last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Enfin Phil (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Enfin Phil (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Made all, soon pressed, ridden approaching last, asserted run in, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Sheriff Garrett (11-4) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.