held up, headway and in touch 5th, challenged 2 out, led before last, ridden and headed towards finish, no extra
mid-division, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened
led, headed before 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last
not fluent, tracked leader, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
mid-division, driven and outpaced 3 out, rallied after next, ridden and stayed on to lead towards finish, headed post
chased leaders, lost place 5th, soon behind, pulled up after next
chased leaders, hit 2nd, outpaced after 3 out, soon ridden, rallied approaching last, stayed on strongly flat, led post
always behind
behind, reminders 6th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
blundered 1st, soon in touch, effort to lead before 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat
The 12-year-old HOT ZONE has been running well in claimers of late, latterly when chasing home Joe Jo Star at Musselburgh, has solid claims dropped into a seller and he gets the vote ahead of Coconut Beach and Sun King. The last mentioned has, like the selection, been running well in better company but Keith Reveley's gelding does have a lot of weight to carry and may struggle to concede 12lbs to Hot Zone. Pat Haslam's Etoile Russe lacks a recent run but his trainer is more than capable of getting one ready after an absence so he has to be considered on his reappearance. George Moore's Finlay's Footsteps is capable but hard to recommend on recent evidence and a bigger threat is likely to come from Coconut Beach, who is taking a big drop in class today. Hot Zone has solid claims though and he is preferred.
Sun King 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, soon not pace of winner, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Joe Jo Star (10-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
Coconut Beach 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division but in touch, weakened after 5th, 10th of 13, 17l behind Princess Flame (10-10) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Alloro 28-1 (11-7) Led and keen, headed 3 out, tailed off from next, 7th of 11, well behind Titfer (10-7) at Doncaster 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Etoile Russe (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Led, headed before 7th, weakening when fell 3 out in race won by Nelson du Ronceray (10-2) at Hexham 2m nov chs (3) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Finlay's Footsteps 9-4fav (10-7) In touch, reminders and lost place after 4th, soon behind, kept on same pace from 2 out, never nearer, 5th of 11, 30l behind General Alarm (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gs in Apr.
Hot Zone (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Prominent, led 3rd, joined when jumped badly right 2 out and last, hard ridden flat, headed near finish, 2nd of 12, nk behind Irish Whispers (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gd in Sept.
Just Waz (USA) 66-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, weakened from next, 4th of 16, 30l behind Albany (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f cnd clm hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Toby Mac 10-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, driven 3 out, one pace, 10th of 16, 28l behind Lawgiver (11-1) at Catterick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Delta Lady 33-1 (10-10) Raced keenly, held up, always towards rear, 9th of 14, 30l behind Woody Valentine (11-4) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
Bulas Boy 40-1 (10-12) Held up and keen, mistake 5th, weakened from next and pulled up at the last in race won by Pemberton (10-9) at Hexham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) hvy in Nov, 6 ran.
