towards rear, hit 3 out, struggling and no chance after, tailed off
raced keenly, chased leader, led turning in, ridden and headed before the last, weakened run-in
led, pushed along and headed turning in, soon ridden, weakened before the last
held up towards rear, reached for 3 out, steady headway out wide approaching next, chasing leaders led and edged left before the last, narrowly headed last, driven and stayed on gamely to lead again final 100 yards
mid-division early, lost place and towards rear 4th, good headway on inside before the last, ridden in 3rd and stayed on run-in, not reach leaders
chased leaders on inside, weakened run-in
held up in rear-division, headway out wide before the last, weakened run-in
mid-division out wide, headway chasing leaders approaching 3rd, every chance 2 after out, soon ridden, edged left and weakened before the last
wore hood to post, keen in mid-division, good headway on inside chasing leaders turning in, went 2nd before the last, led narrowly last, ridden and stayed on run-in, worn down final 100 yards
held up in md-division, pushed along and headway chasing leaders before the last, ridden edged left and kept on run-in, never going pace of leading trio
raced keenly, saddle slipped and pulled up after 3rd
always in rear, never on terms, tailed off
A very tricky opener but Hydroplane goes on the shortlist raised only 3lb for winning in this grade at Sandown. LIVELY CITIZEN has won two of three starts around here and was second in the other. Despite out-battling a well-regarded sort at the track last month, he remains at the right end of the handicap and Archie Bellamy takes off a handy 7lb again. Hystery Bere was impressive returning from a break at Fontwell and Masters Legacy is back over 2m for the first time since making a winning reappearance at Chepstow. Byzantine Empire, Kihavah, Geromino and The Widdow Maker are others with decent claims.
Masters Legacy (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Raced in 3rd, hit 4 out and next, went 2nd before 2 out, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 8, 9 1/2l behind Cap Du Mathan (10-9) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
The Widdow Maker 11-1 (11-11) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, no extra approaching last, 5th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Rowland Ward (11-5) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Geromino (FR) 10-3 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened thereafter, 7th of 8, dist behind Aurora Thunder (10-3) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Cormier (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Towards rear, bad mistake 4 out, some headway out wide chasing leaders before 2 out, weakened soon after, 15th of 19, 23 3/4l behind West Cork (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Hystery Bere (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Chased leader, rapid headway to track leader 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on well from last, idled final 100 yards, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Smurphy Enki (11-12) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Glory And Honour (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, fell and unseated rider 9th, at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Kihavah 9-2 (12-1) Held up, headway into mid-division 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, jumped into lead 2 out, eased clear at last, easily, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Twoshotsoftequila (11-10) by 12l, 11 ran.
Hydroplane (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Chased leader, led 2 out, driven out, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Zambezi Fix (10-8) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Severance 9-1 (11-12) Tended to jump left, held up in rear, headway 4 out, kept on without challenging leaders from 3 out, 4th of 10, 28l behind The Brimming Water (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Byzantine Empire 14-1 (11-7) Towards rear mid-division, effort and headway before 3 out, went 5th 3 out, pressed leaders after 3 out, led going easily before 2 out, jumped left 2 out, hit last, ridden run-in, stayed on well, always doing enough, won at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Seaborough (10-0) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Lively Citizen (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Pecked 1st, chased leaders on inside, went 2nd soon after 2 out, led between last two, advantage last, ridden and battled on gamely run-in, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Broomfield Burg (11-4) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Ashutor (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leaders on inside, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, dist behind The King Of May (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
