made most to 5th, remained in touch, led again after 2 out, soon ridden and hard pressed, mistake and headed narrowly last, kept on until no extra final 110 yards
held up in touch, headway to track leader on outside 6th, lost place 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last
jinked left at start, with leader, led 5th, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept on same approaching last, no impression when lost 3rd towards finish
held up in 4th when blundered and unseated rider 3rd
held up in touch, headway 6th, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden to challenge between last 2, led narrowly last, kept on to go clear final 110 yards
held up in rear in touch, not fluent 5th, struggling 7th, 6th and no impression last, switched inside, stayed on well flat to go 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure from last, no impression
It's more than five years since WELCOME STRANGER last visited the winner's enclosure but Peter Hatton's 7lb claim will help the 11-year-old, who wasn't disgraced on his return from a break at Warwick 10 days ago and may well be good enough to concede weight to his seven rivals here. The filly Jinksy Minx hinted at ability in the autumn and should go well if fully wound-up but it's hard to get enthusiastic about Carys's Lad on recent form and Troys Run has been pulled up in two of his three starts this term.
Welcome Stranger 10-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 4th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 5th of 14, 9l behind Ouest Eclair (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Frankie Falco 100-1 (10-12) In rear, jumped right, mistake 1st, well behind when hung right approaching 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Silver Gypsy (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Troys Run (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Prominent, ridden after 7th, weakened after 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Ukrainian Star (11-3) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan, 17 ran.
Jinksy Minx 40-1 (9-12) Held up in rear, pecked 2nd, ridden after 4th, some headway when hampered 3 out, stayed on flat, never nearer, 4th of 12, 20l behind Jolly Roger (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Gainsborough's Art (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, ridden and in touch 3 out, weakened before next, 11th of 14, 23l behind Ouest Eclair (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Carys's Lad 18-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 14, 25l behind Sea Cliff (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Jan.
Ortega (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Raced keenly, held up in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Dancing Daffodil (10-1) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Jan, 8 ran.
Petrus De Sormain (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Always in rear, tailed off 7th, 9th of 15, well behind Am I Blue (10-13) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sep.
