chased leader, ridden and lost position 3 out, weakened home turn
mid division, pushed along and struggling 3 out, tailed off
mid division, headway to go 2nd 4 out, outpaced by leader home turn, kept on same pace from last
in rear, headway off pace into 3rd home turn, plugged on
made all, increased temp home turn, clear 2 out, kept on well from last, readily
This looks a good opportunity for YORKSEA. He boasts the strongest form with a couple of placed efforts at Cheltenham and Gary Moore’s charge looks the one to beat in this moderate company. Cornicello is preferred to Afternoon Tea and the latter’s stablemate Many Words on a placed effort at Ffos Las while Navegaon Gate and Appreciate debut for new connections with the former rated higher on the Flat.
Afternoon Tea (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Raced in mid-division, ridden 3 out, stayed on one pace, 4th of 8, 16 1/4l behind Romeo's Bond (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gd in Nov.
Appreciate (IRE) 22-1 (9-1) Mid-division, outpaced inside final 2f, no headway after, 6th of 9, 7 1/2l behind Liberated Lad (9-5) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Cornicello (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Chased leader 3rd, led 3 out until next, chased winner, ridden and held before last, weakened into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 9, 13 1/4l behind Forever Blessed (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Oct.
Many Words (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Off the pace in last pair, never involved, 7th of 9, dist behind Forever Blessed (11-5) at Sandown 2m (2) gs in Dec.
Navegaon Gate 14-1 (9-0) Ridden along early, soon rear of mid-division, ridden along again over 6f out, well beaten over 2f out, 7th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Spring Glow (9-0) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Yorksea (IRE) 5-2fav (10-12) Towards rear, headway into 4th before 2 out, pushed along before last, ridden and stayed on run-in, no impression, 2nd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Interne De Sivola (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) gs in Dec.