tracked leaders, 3rd and driven 2 out, no impression, one pace and lost 3rd flat
tracked leader until 2nd, stayed handy, ridden and one pace from 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, still modest 8th before 2 out, headway approaching last, went 3rd flat, finished well and gaining towards finish
tracking leaders on outside 2nd, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out, edged right before last, driven out
tracked leaders, 2nd from 2nd, led 5th, headed 7th, led 4 out, headed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no extra and eased, pulled up before last
held up, took keen hold, effort 3 out, one pace and no impression from next
led until 5th, led 7th, not fluent and headed 4 out, weakened before next
always towards rear
held up towards rear, took keen hold, not fluent 6th or 4 out, effort 3 out, no impression and one pace next
held up in touch, 2nd 2 out, switched left before last, kept on flat, unable to challenge
towards rear, ridden after 7th, well beaten 4 out
mid-division on inside, pushed along after 7th, weakened before 3 out
Improved finished three lengths ahead of Overtoujay on the same terms at Market Rasen on Boxing Day and there is no reason why he can’t confirm that running. Grand Enterprise wasn’t beaten far over a slightly longer trip at Catterick on New Year’s Day and has surprisingly been dropped 5lb since. Henry Hogarth’s gelding must have every chance of opening his account today as few of these in the bottom half of the handicap make much appeal. PHARE ISLE (NAP) has a welter burden and is now in the veteran stage but is now 12lb lower than his last winning mark and his regular partner is still able to claim 7lb. This is a significant drop in grade for Ben Case’s 12-year-old, who gets the vote.
Phare Isle (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division on inside, pushed along after 3 out, not fluent next, went modest 4th run-in, 4th of 12, 29 1/4l behind Flemi Two Toes (10-6) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Overtoujay 8-1 (11-7) Held up, hit 3rd, ridden and headway 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Amber Gambler (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Lake Shore Drive (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Jumped right, in rear, not fluent 5th, behind from next, 5th of 7, dist behind Bring Back Charlie (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Grand Enterprise 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, close up 6th, disputed lead after 3 out, ridden after next, one pace last, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd and held near finish, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Touch Of Steel (11-1) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Improved (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Led, headed 4th, prominent, ridden after 3 out, outpaced 2 out, rallied flat, 4th of 12, 8 1/4l behind Amber Gambler (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
County Road (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hit 4th and 5th, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 8, 33l behind Argante (11-0) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Mahler Bay (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Held up mid-division, towards rear and pushed along before 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Tennessee Bird 33-1 (11-0) Tracked winner, fell 3 out, at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Next Lot 20-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, held up, in touch, weakening when mistake 3 out, 9th of 12, 28 3/4l behind Peal Of Bells (11-5) at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gd in Dec.
Lucky Thirteen 33-1 (10-6) Always in rear, tailed off, last of 15, dist behind Reilly's Minor (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Bored Or Bad (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) In touch, headway 8th, chased leaders after next, weakened 2 out, 9th of 12, 26 1/4l behind Dropzone (10-4) at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gf in Dec.
Blue Cove 80-1 (10-0) Mid-division, on outside, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, went badly left last, 13th of 16, dist behind Loch Linnhe (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
