in touch and towards rear, outpaced 4 out and detached, headway 3 out, kept on from next
tracked leaders, soon with leader, led before last, kept on well
led, headed before last, kept on
tracked leader until jumped slow 1st and 2nd, soon towards rear, tailed off 4 out
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, went 3rd before and not fluent 3 out, one pace
held up towards rear and in touch, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
Nonrunner
Kiama Bay was clear of Thorpe when coming down at the last in a Listed contest over this track and trip in November. He'll be bidding for compensation but this is a tough race to call with Aso and KINGFISHER CREEK closely matched on their run together over further at Taunton last time. Both are heading in the right direction but we'll take Colin Tizzard's charge to come out on top this time and ground out a second success. Rock Of Leon didn't beat much at Fontwell on his debut but has obvious scope, though might not want the ground too testing. Qewy won a Listed race on heavy going on the Flat, however, and it's interesting that he's thrown in at the deep end over timber.
Thorpe (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) In touch, headway 3 out, led next, ridden and headed flat, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Shades Of Midnight (10-7) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) hvy.
Aso (FR) 4-7fav (11-4) Made all, strongly pressed flat, stayed on to assert final 100 yards, won at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Kingfisher Creek (11-4) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Kiama Bay (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) With leaader, led before 3 out, clear 2 out, about 12 lengths clear when fell last, in a race won by Thorpe (11-0) at Haydock 2m Listed nov hdl (1) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
Georgieshore (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Led, headed over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no chance with winner from over 1f out, 2nd of 9, 15l behind Onefitzall (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Qewy (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Led early, close up, raced mainly in 2nd, led approaching straight, headed from 2f out but still chasing leaders 1f out, one pace, 10th of 15, 8l behind Second Step (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f Listed stks (1) in Oct (flat).
Rock Of Leon 7-2 (10-12) Took keen hold early, chased leaders, 2nd after 3rd, went left 4th, pushed along after 5th, led approaching 2 out, went left last, clear flat, driven and idled in closing stages, always doing enough, won at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Bishop Wulstan (10-12) by nk, 6 ran.
Kingfisher Creek 9-2 (11-4) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders bypassing omitted normal 4 out, 2nd 2 out, ridden to challenge flat, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Aso (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
