prominent, led 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, headed before 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
mid-division, ridden before 3 out and no progress, well held when badly hampered and unseated rider last
towards rear, reminders after 4th, ridden before 3 out, soon lost touch and pulled up
tracked leaders, lost place and pushed along after 4 out, pulled up
front mid-division, pressed leaders before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on one pace
mid-division, chased front rank 2 out, pushed along to go 2nd before last, 2 lengths down when fell final flight
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
in rear, always behind, tailed off
mid-division, headway to be prominent 4 out, not fluent 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakening when hampered by faller after last, kept on
raced keenly in rear, pushed along home turn, soon struggling, tailed off
led, headed and remained close up 4 out, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
in rear, pushed along after 4 out, soon lost touch and tailed off
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, pushed along to chase leaders before 2 out, ran on well after last but always held by winner
This is a very competitive opener and it features last year’s runner-up Twin Star, who is 12lb lower. Lord Condi won twice at Perth in the summer but is upped in class. Balleticon hasn’t raced since February and Byzantine Empire is also returning from a break but Method Madness had a run at Ascot last month while Saint Arvans won at Wetherby in October. SEA PRINCE will need to jump better than at Plumpton but is definitely improving so is just preferred to the consistent Maninsane and French import Master Blaze. Onehundredpercent can also figure following wind surgery.
Method Madness (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Keen in rear, ridden 3 out, never on terms, 7th of 9, 21l behind Captain Morgs (10-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Twin Star (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, lost place after 3rd, well beaten after 3 out, 5th of 7, 21 3/4l behind Geromino (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Saint Arvans (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Mid division, pushed along home turn, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 6, 12 1/4l behind First Impression (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Pinkie Brown (FR) (9-5) 14th of 18, 9 1/2l behind Vasy Sakhee (8-8) at Chantilly 1m 7f hcp gd in May.
Sea Prince 2-1fav (11-4) Led, hit 6th, not fluent 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, rallied approaching last, hampered after last, kept on flat, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind King's Proctor (10-7) at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Maninsane (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Close up, ridden and every chance before last, no extra final 100yds, 8th of 18, 4 1/4l behind Mc Alpine (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Byzantine Empire 6-4fav (11-3) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, led 4th, hung right on paddock bend soon after and headed, led again 5th, kicked clear 2 out, stayed on, won at Southwell 2m (4) gd in Jul beating Splinter (10-10) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Lord Condi (IRE) 11-2 (11-13) Pushed along in midfield, towards rear 4 out, headway on outside 3 out, progress to lead approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly under pressure from last, won at Perth 3m hcp (5) gd in Aug beating Late Date (10-10) by 15l, 12 ran.
Onehundredpercent (FR) 5-2fav (10-9) Mid-division, headway 4 out to track leaders, shaken up before 2 out, soon ridden and hit last, kept on but no impression, 2nd of 9, 4 3/4l behind Quinta Do Mar (11-8) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Kanukankan (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Pulled hard and jumped left, tracked leaders, led before 3rd, clear after until before 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 24 3/4l behind Any Givin Sunday (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Master Blaze (FR) (11-2) won at Compiegne 2m 1f hvy in Sep beating Zinoa (10-10) by 5l, 6 ran.
Master Malachy (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, took closer order 2 out, ridden to chase leader last, kept on flat but no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 3 3/4l behind Le Chiffre D'or (10-12) at Hereford 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Seaborough (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Held up in 4th, pushed along over 4f out, weakened quickly over 3f out, 8th of 9, 25l behind Beat The Breeze (9-13) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Balleticon (IRE) 5-4fav (11-8) Led, headed after 3rd, not fluent next, close up 3 out, 3rd and held after 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 7, 26l behind Franigane (11-2) at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Feb.
