prominent on wide outer, led 4 out, kept on well from last
always towards rear
tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, weakened from 2 out
always behind
mid-division, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, lost place from 3 out
led to 4 out, ridden before last, kept on and no chance with winner, fell crossing winning line
close up on inner, lost place 4 out, headway and not fluent next, outpaced 2 out
Fontley House was in good form in the autumn, winning over 3m at Kempton after a second at Southwell. He’s gone up 4lb but doesn’t have many miles on the clock. Holly James had every chance when falling at Chepstow and should stay the extra but LATE SHIPMENT is a standing dish here and was a bit unlucky when just failing to reel in Buster Edwards over track and trip last month. The winner followed up in spectacular fashion at Haydock so Nikki Evans’ nine-year-old can overcome a 2lb rise and record a fourth course victory. Richard Newland will probably coax Broughtons Admiral back to form sooner rather than later but Waiheke is taking a big step up in trip and Rosserk Abbey may now be in the handicapper’s grip.
Broughtons Admiral 5-1 (12-1) Held up towards rear, tailed off and no chance when fell 2 out, at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Fontley House (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 7th, led 2 out, went slightly left last, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Forgetthesmalltalk (11-6) by 1l, 14 ran.
Vaziani (FR) 4-1 (11-3) Chased leader until approaching 6th, chased leaders, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 15, 22 3/4l behind Annsam (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Holly James 4-1 (11-5) Always close up, chased winner 3 out, 2 lengths 2nd and ridden when fell 2 out, at Chepstow 3m (4) sft in Dec.
Volcano (FR) 7-1 (11-12) With leader, hit 6th, not fluent 8th, pushed along and weakened 2 out, tailed off, 11th of 14, dist behind Buster Edwards (11-6) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Late Shipment 10-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, niggled along after 3 out, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, rallied last, stayed on well, not reach winner, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Buster Edwards (11-6) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Waiheke 13-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, every chance next, soon ridden, outpaced by front pair between last 2, left in narrow 2nd last, kept on, not reach winner, 2nd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Lock's Corner (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Rosserk Abbey (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Led, not fluent 6th, ridden after 3 out, headed next, kept on same pace, no impression from last, 5th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Dusky Hercules (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Steel Native (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) In rear, reminders before 2nd, behind when mistake and unseated rider 4 out, at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
