chased leaders, mistake 6th, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out until the last, weakened run-in
raced wide, chased leader, led 4th until hit 2 out, led again last, headed and not pace of winner run-in
chased leaders on inside, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, weakened before next
mid-division, headway out wide chasing leaders 4th, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and went 2nd approaching the last, led run-in, soon quickened clear
off the pace in rear, some late headway, never involved
off the pace towards rear, headway out wide 3 out, went 3rd run-in, closed on 2nd but no chance with winner
towards rear, good headway chasing leaders 3rd, pushed along and weakened after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
raced wide in last pair, tailed off 4 out, never a factor
off the pace towards rear, never involved, tailed off
chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next
led until 4th, chased leader until hit 4 out, chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
Only two finished when Turning Gold won a selling hurdle at Leicester but Poker Master had shown progressive form last year when winning five times before struggling at Huntingdon on Boxing Day. Watergrange Jack is now 10lb higher than when successful here last summer so a chance is taken on BUMPY JOHNSON. The latter returns from wind surgery and is 3lb lower than when fourth in a higher grade contest over track and trip in October. Ballydisco and Militaire make their handicap debuts and the latter represents last year’s winning yard.
Militaire 15-8 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 3 out until next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 21l behind Regal Blue (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Issam (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leader until ridden approaching 3 out, pulled up next, at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Watergrange Jack (IRE) 18-1 (11-13) Led, pushed along when mistake 2 out, soon headed, ridden last, kept on flat, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Santos Blue (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Bumpy Johnson (IRE) 13-2 (12-0) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, well held 2 out, 4th of 5, 25 1/2l behind I Spy A Diva (12-2) at Taunton 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Oxygen (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Prominent, ridden to lead 1st, headed briefly 4th, pushed along when headed 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 28 1/4l behind Yellowstone Park (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Ballydisco (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Rear mid-division, mistake 1st, chased leaders after 4 out, pushed along and gradually faded 2 out, 6th of 15, 21 3/4l behind Out Of Office (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Poker Master (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up, took keen hold, closed 5th, went 2nd briefly before 6th, outpaced after 3 out, no extra from 2 out, 5th of 14, 25 3/4l behind Seelotmorebusiness (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Shalakar (FR) 11-1 (11-10) Edged right 1st, soon led, headed and not fluent 3rd, lost place 6th, well beaten from 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Zero Tolerance (GER) 14-1 (11-10) Led, mistake and headed 2 out, lost 2nd soon after, weakened between last two, 4th of 10, 12 1/2l behind Atlanta Brave (11-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Jaunty Viking 11-1 (11-6) Prominent, awkward 5th, ridden to chase leaders after 4 out, weakened quickly 3 out, soon pulled up, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Turning Gold 13-8fav (11-5) Made all, clear 5th, pushed along 2 out, canter, won at Leicester 2m 4f (4) hvy in Dec beating Marajman (11-5) by dist, 7 ran.
