held up mid-division, fell 5 out
tracked leaders, badly hampered on inner before 3 out, soon lost place
in rear, headway on inner before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra towards finish
held up mid-division, weakened 3 out, soon tailed off
with leader, ridden before 3 out, stayed on run-in
led, ridden before 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra run-in
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish
held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, no impression before last
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, went 2nd before last, kept on to lead towards finish
It's hard to see Walter De La Mare reversing Fakenham form with Straits Of Messina, even though the latter has been raised 7b. But the merit of that form looks questionable and Tom Symonds' charge has to concede 21lb to LEAN BURN. The bottom weight has spurned several opportunities this season but Conor Ring takes off 3lb here and his latest second at Uttoxeter appears the best form on offer in this. Caught By Witness is closely matched with Walter De La Mare on their run together at Market Rasen on Boxing Day but is only a plater and Torgamah Lad needs to learn to settle.
Straits Of Messina (IRE) 15-8fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 3rd before 5th, went 2nd after next, led after 2 out, soon ridden, 3 lengths clear last, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan beating Grand Article (10-0) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Torgamah Lad (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Keen in touch, ridden 3 out, headway next, not trouble leaders, 4th of 8, 34l behind Dubawi Island (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Walter De La Mare (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, steady headway to 4th at the 5th, went 3rd 3 out, no chance with leading duo, lost modest 3rd in closing stages, 4th of 6, 22l behind Straits Of Messina (11-9) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
Force Of Habit 50-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden 6th, soon behind, soon pulled up, in a race won by Grate Fella (11-8) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Inside Knowledge (USA) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, lost place and bumped 5th, struggling 7th, some late headway, never any chance, 8th of 16, 39l behind Portway Flyer (11-11) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Nov.
Wheelavim 100-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, weakened from 3rd, 7th of 8, well behind Baltimore Rock (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Bow Fiddle (IRE) 40-1 (10-3) Always towards rear, 8th of 9, 25l behind Benalex Park (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Baraboy (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Held up behind, chased leaders under pressure after 4 out, never on terms, left modest 4th 2 out, 4th of 9, 37l behind Rhymers Stone (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Caught By Witness (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Held up, not fluent 6th, headway after next, went 3rd before 2 out, no impression, weakened before last, 3rd of 8, 24l behind Kayf Moss (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Lean Burn (USA) 4-1 (10-0) Mid-division, lost place 2nd, pushed along and last before 4th, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, led last, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Come On Annie (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Dec.
