mid-division, ridden and outpaced when hung left before 3 out, never involved
led, clear before 2 out, driven and stayed on gamely run-in
held up towards rear, steady headway before 3 out, plugged on in modest 4th
mid-division, not fluent 4th, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
never better than mid-division out wide
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, closer approaching last, driven and stayed on run-in, always just held
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon outpaced and no chance with leading duo
chased winner until 3 out, weakened before next
raced keenly, awkward 1st, always in rear, tailed off
last pair, never on terms
NonRunner
Inn The Bull returned to hurdling with a recent victory at Huntingdon and a conditional’s allowance negates a penalty. He can figure again and is preferred to Market Rasen winner Cawthorne, who could only manage third last time. Several go handicapping for the first time including Billy The Squid, Thirtyfourstitches and LIGHT IN THE SKY with a chance taken on the latter. He’s undergone wind surgery since disappointing back in August but Paul Nicholls’ charge had been progressing well in novice races before that.
Inn The Bull (GER) 10-1 (11-9) Held up, pushed along and headway to lead 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Chess Player (11-5) by 7 1/2l, 13 ran.
Nikki Steel (IRE) 6-5fav (12-3) 2nd or 3rd, not fluent 8th, ridden when not fluent 2 out, unable to trouble winner flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Brave Spartacus (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Borak (IRE) 11-1 (9-11) Always towards rear, 8th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Prince Llyr (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Aug.
Light In The Sky (FR) 16-5 (10-11) Led, mistake 4 out, headed before 2 out, soon well held, left 3rd at 2 out, 3rd of 12, 32 1/2l behind Twin Star (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) gd in Aug.
Coastal Drift 40-1 (11-3) Prominent, led after 1st, headed narrowly 2nd, ridden after 4 out, weakened quickly before 3 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before last, at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
First Quest (USA) 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division, mistake 5th, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened, last of 7, 30 1/2l behind Bashful Boy (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) gf in Mar.
Billy The Squid (IRE) 125-1 (10-12) Not always fluent, in rear, modest headway after 5th, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Duffle Coat (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Nov.
Ascot Day (FR) 250-1 (11-2) Prominent, close up 3rd, lost place 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 10, 26 1/4l behind Up For Parol (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m (4) gs in Apr.
Thirtyfourstitches (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, jumped right 3rd, well beaten before 3 out, 9th of 12, 34l behind Brewers Project (11-7) at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Apr.
Cawthorne 9-2cfav (10-12) In rear, steady headway from 4 out, progress into midfield 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, drifted left approaching last, kept on, 3rd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Chief Brody (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (5) gf in Oct.
Carnage 50-1 (10-6) Off the pace mid-division, weakened 4 out, 8th of 12, dist behind Amarillo Sky (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
