tracked leaders, smooth headway on inside to lead before 2 out, clear between last 2, pushed out, impressive
in touch, lost place 10th, pushed along after 5 out, headway under pressure 3 out, ridden to chase leaders before next, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner
in touch, tracked leaders after 4 out, challenged after next, ridden and outpaced by winner after 2 out, no chance after, weakened into 5th closing stages
always towards rear, struggling 11th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
in touch, driven to chase leaders after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on into 3rd flat, no chance with winner
mid-division, headway on outside 11th, mistake 4 out, outpaced when pecked next, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
with leader to 9th, lost place when hit next, behind from 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
mid-division, headway on outside 3 out, ridden to chase leaders before next, kept on same pace, went 4th near finish, no impression
in rear, reminders after 4th, lost touch 7th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
behind, struggling when hit 4 out, never near leaders
made most, hit 4 out, driven and headed before 2 out, ridden and weakened before last
held up, always behind, struggling 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
Ballyhill finally came good over fences in a similar race on the Old Course here on New Year’s Day, holding off a back-to-form Shantou Flyer. The second is now 4lb better off, however, and could turn the tables if the cheekpieces work a second time. King's Odyssey travelled strongly for a long way in another Grade 3 here in December and has been dropped a pound since while the lightly-raced Pressurize bolted up at Chepstow on his reappearance, though needs really heavy ground to show his best. Paul Nicholls is not averse to running classy chasers under big weights in handicaps here and FRODON looked as though his turn was near when second behind Gold Present at Ascot last month. He led in the straight that day so the drop in distance should help and he won one of these valuable handicaps here last season – Bryony Frost’s claim takes care of the 5lb higher mark. O O Seven will struggle to reverse Ascot running but Coo Star Sivola is interesting running in his first handicap and Ultragold often pops up when least expected.
Frodon (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Always prominent, 2nd briefly 13th, definite 2nd 3 out, led approaching last, soon joined, headed and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Gold Present (11-3) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Shantou Flyer (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Prominent on outside, lost place 2nd, headway 6th, hit 13th, went 2nd 2 out, held by winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Ballyhill (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
O O Seven (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, modest 4th before next, one pace, 4th of 14, 11l behind Gold Present (11-3) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Ultragold (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, headway 15th, disputing 2nd before elbow, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Gas Line Boy (11-10) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
King's Odyssey (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, no impression on leader when left in lead before 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 10, 7 3/4l behind Guitar Pete (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Ballyhill (FR) 9-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway on outside from 9th, led 3 out, edged right after 2 out, edged left flat, stayed on, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan beating Shantou Flyer (11-10) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Casse Tete (FR) 18-1 (11-11) Jumped badly left throughout, tailed off when blundered 3 out, 7th of 11, 33 1/4l behind Mr Medic (10-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Pressurize (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Prominent, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Templehills (11-7) by 15l, 6 ran.
Coo Star Sivola (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, pecked slightly 3 out, led next, headed last, outpaced by winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 4, 3 3/4l behind Kalondra (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) sft in Dec.
Bally Longford (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Chased leader, blundered 14th, challenged 2 out, slight lead when mistake and headed last, last, no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Walk In The Mill (11-8) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Drumlee Sunset (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Took keen hold, soo steadied into 4th, headway 7th, not fluent 5 out or 4 out, beaten when mistake 2 out, left 2nd when hampered last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 16l behind Monbeg River (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Potters Legend 7-2fav (11-12) Took keen hold, chased leaders, mistake 14th, blundered and lost place next, tailed off 16th, soon pulled up, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Arctic Gold (IRE) 15-8fav (11-8) Jumped left, led until 3rd, led before next, mistake 2 out, headed last, held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Town Parks (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Dream Bolt (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway from 2 out, kept on run-in, went never 3rd last strides but no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 11, 16 1/4l behind Mr Medic (10-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
