led, headed 2 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd between last two, weakened badly run-in, just held on for 3rd
held up last, reminders after 4th, not fluent 7th, headway between horses approaching 3 out, ridden before next, went 2nd between last two, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
raced keenly in close 3rd on inside, lost 3rd at 7th, ridden before 3 out, outpaced soon after, plugged on run-in
tracked leaders out wide in close 4th, went 3rd at 7th, hit 4 out, went 2nd after 4 out, led 2 out, clear before the last, ridden out run-in
raced wide tracking leader, pushed along and lost 2nd after 4 out, weakened and behind next, tailed off
NonRunner
LELANTOS (NAP) is another with leading claims for Nicky Henderson’s yard. He bids or a hat-trick raised only 3lb for his latest success at Fakenham. Espinator landed a hat-trick when scoring at Newton Abbot in September but hasn’t raced since and is 13lb higher today while Easkey Lad landed a double over 2m here last summer but is another returning from a lay-off. Dalkingstown is fitted with a tongue-tie on his return to the smaller obstacles having placed over fences at Uttoxeter recently.
Espinator (FR) 7-4fav (11-2) Mid-division, headway 4 out, led before not fluent 2 out, clear when not fluent last, easily, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Sep beating Master Tradesman (10-6) by 8 1/2l, 10 ran.
Dalkingstown 6-1 (12-0) Midfield, hit 5th, headway travelling okay approaching 4 out, not fluent 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on well from last, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Havana River (10-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Easkey Lad (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Close up, pushed along 4 out, headway 2 out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Borak (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Cry Wolf 11-1 (11-1) Towards rear, pushed along after 5th, well behind before 2 out, 11th of 12, 29 1/2l behind Kolisi (10-7) at Taunton 2m hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Judge Earle (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Prominent, dropped to midfield 2nd, ridden in rear 4th, detached 7th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Lelantos (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-3) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, joined next, ridden and jinked right approaching last, stayed on, won at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Tiny Tantrum (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.