tracked leaders, went 2nd from 4 out, led before 2 out, clear before last
held up towards rear, headway to track leaders halfway, in 4th and well held from 4 out
in rear, pushed along and headway before 12th, soon outpaced, plugged on from 4 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway 12th, one pace from 5 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place before 12th, tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
behind, pushed along halfway, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, blundered and unseated rider 4th
held up mid-division, pushed along before 12th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
led, hit 1st, headed 13th, soon weakened
held up mid-division on outer, led 13th, headed before 2 out, kept on same pace
held up mid-division, lost place b efore 12th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
This looks a tricky start with several potentially well treated but arriving out of form while others may be biting off more than they can chew. Willoughby Hedge is lightly raced for his age but hasn't really taken to fences so far while St Johns Point has been climbing the weights without winning, though may be helped by first-time blinkers. Solstice Son could be interesting if fully wound-up but Imperial Leader has become disappointing, as has Strollawaynow. FIRM ORDER won off a 14lb higher mark at Sandown at the end of 2014 and showed all was not lost at that track in December – he may just be the pick of the weights today. Kings Apollo has been showing more lately and looks best of the rest.
Willoughby Hedge 3-1fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, closed on outside, 7th, went 2nd before 15th, no impression on winner from 4 out, 2nd of 10, 26l behind As De Fer (10-12) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
St Johns Point (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd at next, 1 length down last, led narrowly soon after, headed flat, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Waldorf Salad (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Grove Silver (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) In rear, headway before 7th, mistake and unseated rider when in 7th, at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Solstice Son 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway in back-straight, every chance 4 out, not fluent 3 out, no extra before last, 6th of 12, 9 1/2l behind Gas Line Boy (11-12) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Didntitellya (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Prominent, jumped right 1st and 2nd, lost place from 10th, well behind 13th, soon pulled up, at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Imperial Leader (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Held up in touch on inside, tracked leaders when pecked 10th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Firm Order (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 3rd when not fluent 3 out, no chance with front pair from next, left modest 2nd briefly flat, no extra, 3rd of 7, 18 1/4l behind Conas Taoi (10-3) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Strollawaynow (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 11th, weakened before 15th, pulled up 3 out, at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Kings Apollo 4-1 (11-12) Led until 10th, led next, headed before 4 out, no impression on winner next, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 5, 9 3/4l behind Ballyrath (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Under The Phone (IRE) 13-2fav (11-12) Led to 8th, chased leaders, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 6th of 16, 8 1/4l behind Native Robin (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Xenophon 15-8fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, outpaced when mistake 14th, mistake and weakened 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, 3rd of 5, dist behind Tanner Hill (11-1) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (5) sft in Jan.
