raced wide, held up, headway in centre to lead entering final 2f, clear inside final furlong
always towards rear, hampered over 8f out
tracked leader, pushed along and every chance 2f out, kept on one pace
soon behind, ridden over 2f out, ran on final furlong nearest finish
in touch, hampered and lost place over 8f out, not a factor after
soon led, ridden and headed entering final 2f, weakened final furlong
in touch, edged right over 8f out, ridden and effort 2f out, faded inside final furlong
held up, hampered over 8f out, pushed along and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to go 3rd near finish
keen, close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out
slow into stride, in rear of main group, hampered over 8f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, not trouble leaders
towards rear, hampered over 8f out, soon switched left, headway entering final 2f, stayed on final furlong
keen, raced wide, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
hung left early, tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
VICTORIOUSLY made a winning return in April of last year but didn’t race again until December. He found only one too good at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day and should be sharper today racing off the same mark. Betsalottie has been thereabouts since winning at Windsor in October and Thaqaffa will take advantage of a slide down the weights before long while Dolphin Village and The Gay Cavalier are others on decent marks compared to their best form.
Thaqaffa (IRE) 3-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Jack Of Diamonds (9-6) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Dolphin Village (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Close up, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 9 1/2l behind Ocean Of Love (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Conkering Hero (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Tracked leader, led over 5f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, dist behind Caged Lightning (10-0) at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Freedom Fighter (IRE) 50-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, always behind, 6th of 8, 14 1/2l behind Hyperloop (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Sep.
Tyrsal (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, some late minor headway, never involved, 6th of 11, 7 1/2l behind Sky Eagle (9-5) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Diamond Reflection (IRE) 66-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up, never dangerous, 11th of 12, 8 3/4l behind Ban Shoof (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Victoriously 6-1 (9-7) Mid-division, pushed along 3f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, went 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind King Kevin (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Bogardus (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, ridden before 3 out, soon beaten, 12th of 14, dist behind Wot A Shot (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Gee Sixty Six 14-1 (9-4) Sitting down slightly as gates opened and missed break, soon tracking leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 11, 26 3/4l behind Navajo Star (8-1) at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Betsalottie 8-1 (8-13) Raced wide in touch, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Bayston Hill (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Rowlestonerendezvu 9-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, closed over 5f out, every chance 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 4 3/4l behind Iley Boy (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Garcon De Soleil 20-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, never troubled leaders, 9th of 13, 30l behind Author's Dream (9-6) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Clandon 50-1 (8-12) Keen towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, last of 10, 10 1/2l behind Hidden Stash (9-0) at Lingfield 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
The Gay Cavalier 14-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, pushed along 5f out, always towards rear, never on terms, 10th of 13, 8 1/2l behind King Kevin (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.