with winner and clear to 5th, lost place 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened 2 out
tracked clear leaders, close up in 3rd at 5th, lost place after 3 out, weakened next
tracked clear leaders, close up 5th, chased winner after 3 out to next, no impression in 3rd before last
made virtually all, clear with one other to 5th, went left 2 out, soon ridden, hard pressed last, kept on under pressure flat
raced keenly, held up in rear, headway on outside 3 out, went 2nd next, every chance last, ridden and one pace flat
Nothing makes much appeal in this but HAIL TIBERIUS has at least had a recent run, finishing second in an all-weather claimer over 2m at Southwell on Tuesday. He notched a double in October and may be more match-fit than the returning Ussee and Val D'Allier, who has been absent since running My Oh Mount Brown to a neck at Towcester in October. Should I Stay isn't really getting any better but Tenby Jewel is dropped in class and could play a part.
Tenby Jewel (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, led until before 3rd, lost place 8th, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Lienosus (11-12) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Val D'allier (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 5th to chase leaders, challenged 2 out, every chance from last until held towards finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind My Oh Mount Brown (11-1) at Towcester 2m 5f (5) gf in Oct.
Ussee (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway after 7th, weakened flat, 7th of 16, 19l behind Lord Grantham (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Bajan Blu 5-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway after 2nd, chased winner next until after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 10, 30l behind Waldorf Salad (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) hvy in Jan.
Should I Stay (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakening when jumped left next, 4th of 13, 40l behind Come On Annie (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Hail Tiberius 11-4fav (11-12) Held up in rear, hit 3rd, ridden and headway between last two, weakened flat, 7th of 8, 5l behind Walter De La Mare (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sel hcp hdl (0-100) (5) sft in Dec.