tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd and well held when pecked last
led, headed before 4th, ridden to chase winner, kept on and always held
in rear, outpaced halfway
tracked leader, led before 4th, ridden before last, kept on well
NonRunner
Locker Room Talk beat more experienced rivals in a handicap at Taunton last month and is capable of going close again under his penalty. Red Risk is also penalised for winning at Auteuil in September but he’ll likely find further improvement for the switch to the Nicholls yard. Colorado Doc was second in a couple of hurdle starts at Ffos Las at the end of last year and has won six times between the flags so a switch to fences will suit. Haldon Hill had no chance against First Flow here on his chasing bow but will know more today. DAME DU SOIR made a race of it with the odds-on Midnight Tune at Exeter and will again have the mares’ allowance in her favour - she could be the value in an intriguing contest.
Red Risk (FR) (10-7) won at Auteuil 2m 1f hvy in Sep beating Quart De Garde (10-7) by 4l, 7 ran.
Colorado Doc 7-4 (10-12) Led to after 3rd, with winner, still upsides 2 out, ridden and readily outpaced before last, no chance after, 2nd of 3, 6l behind Thomas Macdonagh (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 4f (4) hvy in Dec.
Haldon Hill (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up, chased winner from 4th, beaten when blundered 3 out, 2nd of 3, 20l behind First Flow (11-0) at Hereford 2m (3) sft in Dec.
Dame du Soir (FR) 11-2 (11-0) Chased winner throughout, awkward 2nd, not fluent 4th, ridden between last 2, held, 2nd of 3, 3 3/4l behind Midnight Tune (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f (3) hvy in Dec.
Locker Room Talk (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Soon led and went well clear, hit 4 out, wandered run-in, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Admiral's Secret (11-1) by 7l, 12 ran.
