never travelled in last trio, pushed along after 4th, behind 7th, ridden and beaten after next, tailed off 3 out
chased leaders and pushed along at times, hit 7th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
made all, joined and flattened 2 out, ridden home turn, went clear before last, stayed on strongly
held up in last pair, steady headway 7th, chased leaders on outside before 3 out, ridden before next, 3rd home turn, stayed on same pace, hit last
chased winner throughout, every chance when hit 3 out, ridden after next, no extra before last
chased leaders on inside, ridden and weakened home turn
hit 6th, always behind, tailed off, pulled up before last
NonRunner
Paricolor has been making hay in sellers but has a big weight to carry back against seasoned handicappers, despite Fergus Gillard’s claim. Shantung has been no nearer ending his losing run and Group Stage was still beaten a long way when a promoted third at Doncaster. Hier Encore was second off this mark at Fontwell in the autumn but does most of his racing at the Sussex track. It’s almost two years since NOT A ROLE MODEL last ran over hurdles but he won off a higher mark over fences at Wincanton in November with Jordan Nailor’s 5lb claim a further plus. Foreign Secretary seems better on quicker surfaces nowadays.
Foreign Secretary 12-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, tracked leader after 2nd, led before bypassing omitted 3 out, headed on long run before next, weakened soon after, 7th of 16, 15 1/4l behind Calva D'Auge (12-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Paricolor (FR) 10-11fav (11-10) Made all, led narrowly early stages, led after 4th, niggled along and upped tempo before 2 out, 4-lengths clear and not fluent last, pushed out and well clear at the finish, won at Taunton 2m (5) gs in Dec beating Keepscalling (10-5) by 9 1/2l, 6 ran.
Not A Role Model (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Jumped well but out left mostly throughout, made all, ridden clear before 3 out, stayed on gamely, unchallenged, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Buster Thomas (11-11) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Group Stage (GER) 12-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, ridden along before 3 out, plugged on one pace from 2 out, finished fourth, placed third, 4th of 8, at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Shantung (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) In rear, ridden after 6th and lost touch, stayed on past beaten horses 2 out, one pace, 4th of 7, 29 1/4l behind Another Theatre (11-5) at Southwell 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
No Quarter Asked (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders approaching 7th, ridden and weakened before the last, 6th of 11, 11l behind Delface (11-12) at Hereford 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Hier Encore (FR) 7-1 (12-3) Midfield, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 9, 8 3/4l behind Cristal Spirit (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Show Promise 20-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders early, soon midfield, pushed along 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Get Out The Gate (11-6) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
