led until approaching 2nd, bumped next, chased leader until after 10th, chased leaders, reminders before 12th, weakened quickly before 14th, tailed off
mid-division out wide, mistake 10th, pushed along before next, soon weakened, tailed off 13th
pushed along and led approaching 2nd, pushed along and headed before 4 out, plugged on
chased leaders, went left and bumped 3rd, pushed along after 14th, lost place and towards rear soon after, poor 6th jumping the last, strong run run-in, went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
mid-division, headway on inside chasing leaders before 13th, close 2nd before 4 out, every chance next, lost 2nd and mistake 2 out, weakened between last 2
waited with towards rear, headway chasing leaders in 6th when blundered 4 out, kept on run-in
soon towards rear, behind and struggling before 11th, tailed off and pulled up before next
always behind, tailed off 14th
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders when hit 14th, led before last, came clear run-in
mistakes, chased leaders, mistake 7th, went 2nd 12th, blundered and lost 2nd 14th, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd after 10th until 12th, chased leaders, 2nd again 14th, led before 4 out, blundered 3 out, headed before last, well held when mistake last, weakened into 4th run-in
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 11th, pushed along in 5th before 4 out, went 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, lost 2nd near finish
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Ask Me Early, Hold That Taught and Golden Sovereign were all engaged in the 1.58 at Chepstow yesterday but the first two named would be popular if rerouted here. Mr Clarkson was still in front when unseating his rider at Taunton and Fortescue, a winner here last March, looked to be on the way back when second at Bangor. Muckamore is likely to prove better than he showed when favourite at Market Rasen but Sandy Boy is a bit of an enigma. Tea Time On Mars got back to winning ways at Bangor but was earlier behind Strictlyadancer over this track and trip. CROSSLEY TENDER was far from disgraced racing off his new mark last month and is very much at home around here. He’s made giant strides this season and the going will be in his favour again.
Mr Clarkson (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Prominent, upped tempo and led far side final circuit, led 3 out, led and every chance when knuckled on landing and unseated rider 2 out, at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Fortescue 11-2 (11-8) Tracked leading group, closer and chased leader 10th, pressed leader 5 out, led 4 out, not fluent 2 out and headed approaching the last, rallied gamely run-in, not quite enough, 2nd of 7, nk behind Snuff Box (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Dancing Shadow (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Led, headed 3rd, led 7th, narrow advantage turning for home, ridden before 3 out, headed before 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Findusatgorcombe (10-0) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Samuel Jackson 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, awkward 4th, nudged after 7th, 2nd jumping 4 out, dropped to 3rd 3 out and ridden, soon beaten, 3rd of 4, 24l behind Robin Gold (10-10) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Muckamore (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Prominent, hit 4 out and soon pushed, ridden before 3 out, weakened late on, 6th of 8, 24 1/2l behind Ballyhome (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ballycross 8-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 7th, driven when not fluent 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, stayed on into 2nd flat, no impression, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Champers On Ice (11-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Sandy Boy (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Towards rear before taking closer order with circuit to travel, driven in fourth approaching 3 out, went third next, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 8 3/4l behind Innisfree Lad (11-2) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Normandy Soldier 12-1 (11-13) Chased leaders, outpaced before 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th run-in, 4th of 11, 13 1/2l behind Favori De Sivola (10-3) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Crossley Tender 8-1 (10-13) Held up in midfield, headway 7th, chased leader when ridden approaching 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 9 3/4l behind Cobolobo (11-10) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Minella Bobo (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Held up in touch on inside, struggling 3 out, well beaten before 2 out, last of 7, 31 3/4l behind Demachine (11-6) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Tea Time On Mars 13-2 (10-13) Contested lead, definite advantage after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on gamely, won at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Checkitout (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Strictlyadancer (IRE) 2-1fav (11-11) Tracked leader, went 2nd at 7th, not fluent 11th, ridden and every chance from 3 out, kept on one pace flat, 2nd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Friends Don't Ask (10-8) at Fakenham 3m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Ask Me Early (IRE) 9-4fav (10-10) Made all, led narrowly, not fluent 4th, pressed and ridden along 3 out and 2 out (usually 4 out and 3 out), led narrowly last (usually 2 out), kept on gamely when driven out run-in, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Lord Napier (11-6) by 5 1/2l, 7 ran.
Golden Sovereign (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, well behind 15th, pulled up before 4 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Hold That Taught 4-1 (10-11) Held up on outside, improved before 15th, not fluent 16th, held in 4th when switched right after 2 out, went 3rd last, one pace, 3rd of 7, 8 3/4l behind Demachine (11-6) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
