raced on inside throughout, chased leading pair, ridden and weakened rapidly after 3 out, tailed off
raced wide, took keen hold tracking leaders, pushed along and one pace in 4th before 2 out, no chance with leading trio
raced wide, pulled hard, held up, awkward 7th, smooth headway tracking leaders approaching 3 out, 2nd before 2 out, challenged and hit 2 out, led before the last, came readily clear run-in
raced wide, tracked leader until pushed along before 2 out, chased leading pair, mistake last, rallied into 2nd again near finish, no chance with winner
always behind, pushed along and struggling after 7th, tailed off
took keen hold, always towards rear, tailed off
raced wide, in touch, hit 5th, ridden and weakened before 3 out
raced wide, led and set steady pace, joined when hit 2 out, ridden and headed before the last, no chance with winner, lost 2nd near finish
The market will be the best guide to the chances of some of these, including impressive points winner Benatar. But Oakidoaki showed signs of ability at Lingfield and Up The Navan Road, Groundunderrepair and MILZIPA are all likely to build on promise in bumpers. The latter wasn’t beaten far at Plumpton in November, considering he wasn’t unduly punished, and is sure to know his job.
Alpha Indi (IRE) 4-1 (12-1) Ld, 2l adv 6out, hdd aftr 2out, cl 3rd at last, no ex early flat, 3rd of 14, 3 1/4l behind Earlshill (12-1) at Dromahane 3m mdn gs in May.
Bellamy 8-13fav (11-2) Keen, led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 9, 33 1/2l behind The Linksman (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (6) gs in Dec.
Benatar (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Mid div, clsr 4th 6out, trvlng well to ld 3out, stretched adv bef last & clr run in, sow, easily, won at Loughbrickland 3m mdn sft in Nov beating Newlands Cross (11-10) by 15l, 10 ran.
Groundunderrepair (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leader until pushed along over 2f out, 3rd and one pace final 2f, 3rd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Cesar Et Rosalie (11-0) at Lingfield 2m (6) pol in Nov.
Homers Odyssey 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened from 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 14, dist behind Bastien (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gs in Dec.
Jebs Gamble (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and stayed on same pace final 2f, 4th of 6, 11 3/4l behind Midnight Tune (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 2f (6) sft in Nov.
Lough Derg Mystery (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, never involved, 8th of 15, 31 1/4l behind Sneaky Feeling (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Oakidoaki 14-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, pushed along and headway approaching 2 out, 4th approaching 2 out, no impression when hung left under pressure between last 2, weakened into 5th run-in, 5th of 12, 15 3/4l behind Buster Thomas (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Faheem 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, dist behind Templier (10-7) at Plumpton 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Milzipa (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders on outside, pushed along over 4f out, 5th and one pace final 2f, 5th of 8, 9l behind The Mighty Don (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 2f (6) gd in Nov.
Up The Navan Road (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Raced in rear, good progress into 5th under 4f out, ridden in moderate 3rd 2f out, kept on well inside final furlong to go 2nd close home, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Kagney (12-0) at Downpatrick 2m 2f gd in Sep.
