held up in 5th, pushed along and hung left before 3 out, soon beaten
tracked winner, challenged on outside from 3 out, every chance last, hung right under pressure and no extra run-in, lost 2nd final 100 yards
jumped left at times, made virtually all, went left 5th, stayed on inside in home straight, joined when went left and stumbled 2 out, soon ridden, strongly pressed last, ridden and asserted run-in
tracked leaders on inside, ridden and outpaced in 3rd between last 2, not fluent last, rallied well run-in, went 2nd final 100 yards, not reach winner
pulled hard in last pair, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out
raced keenly tracking leaders, pushed along and weakened 3 out
raced keenly in rear, pushed along and struggling after 4 out, tailed off
last trio, no chance when went badly left 3 out
This looks a well-contested novice event with four previous winners in opposition. JEREMY PASS was pulled up at Ascot last month but drops down a grade for this and a return to better ground can see the Nicholls’ runner back to his best. Riggs has been thriving in handicaps so it will be interesting to see how he copes in this under a penalty but he’s preferred to A Large One Please, tailed off at Wetherby after winning at Catterick, and Exeter maiden winner Patroclus who is back up in trip. Get Prepared and Mauritian Bolt still have scope but will find easier opportunities.
A Large One Please (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Not always fluent, held up towards rear, headway before 6th, struggling before 4out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, dist behind Henry Gondoff (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) hvy in Jan.
Jeremy Pass (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 2nd, mistake 3 out, struggling when short of room, lost 2nd and squeezed out soon after, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 2m 6f (3) sft in Jan.
Patroclus (IRE) 6-5fav (11-4) Led, headed 3rd, led again 4 out, ridden and headed last, rallied to lead again towards finish, won at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Astigar (11-4) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Riggs (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, good headway on outside chasing leaders before 2 out, led 2 out, soon ridden and hung right, headed before the last, soon outpaced, weakened into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 15, 13l behind Monte Cristo (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Freethinker (IRE) 150-1 (11-2) Always in rear, tailed off throughout, 11th of 16, dist behind Solwara One (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Jan.
Get Prepared 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, soon beaten, 10th of 15, dist behind Paddys Motorbike (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Mauritian Bolt (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led narrowly at steady pace, headed with circuit to run, ridden and lost ground entering home straight, weakened well over 1f out, 4th of 6, 19 1/2l behind Karl Philippe (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f (5) hvy in Nov.
Son Of The Somme (IRE) Yeats gelding out of Present Venture.
