raced keenly, led and soon clear, 2 lengths ahead when fell last
took keen hold, in touch in mid-division, headway tracking leaders in 3rd well before 2 out until pushed along before next, mistake 2 out, left in 3rd at the last, dropped to 4th close home
chased leaders on inside, went 2nd 4th until 4 out, chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
chased leaders, went 2nd after 2nd, blundered next and lost place, never on terms after, pushed along and struggling before 3 out
raced wide, never better than mid-division, last and struggling before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, steady headway on outside approaching 3 out, pushed along in 4th after 3 out, went 2nd well before 2 out, ridden between last two, 2 lengths down and starting to close when left clear last
never better than mid-division, dropped to last and struggling before 4 out, tailed off
held up in last pair, steady headway racing awkwardly after 3 out, modest 3rd before 2 out, no impression when left modest 2nd at the last
tracked clear leader until after 2nd, tracked leaders, 2nd again 4 out, hit 3 out, outpaced quickly well before next, left modest 4th at the last, went remote 3rd close home
NonRunner
Richard Johnson prefers Ozzie The Oscar to stablemate Allee Bleue, even though the former was pulled up when joint favourite for a Listed handicap last time at Newbury - this looks easier so he’s respected. River Frost could be anything after getting off the mark at Plumpton, though the second that day has been beaten twice since. Cool Sky was behind New Member at Huntingdon early last month but did much better at Fontwell on Boxing Day. Artifice Sivola is on a real roll and won here last April. His latest win came over a longer trip but the grey should have the pace to cope and is only 6lb higher but is due to line up at Warwick. MEET THE LEGEND was highly tried on his reappearance at Ascot and is still unexposed; he may be worth chancing on this drop in grade.
Meet The Legend 9-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway on inside into mid-division after 4th, weakened rapidly on long run after 3 out, 16th of 19, dist behind Brain Power (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Ozzie The Oscar (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-10) Took keen hold, chased leaders on inside, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next, at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
New Member (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Raced keenly, chased leaders, ridden between last two, chance when hit last, kept on under pressure run-in, 4th of 12, 1 1/4l behind Bigmartre (11-6) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Allee Bleue (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Took keen hold, prominent, mistake 5th, not fluent 3 out, weakened after next, last of 13, dist behind Kapstadt (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Ashoka (IRE) 13-2 (10-7) Pulled up before 1st, at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
River Frost 4-6fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led on extended run-in, just nudged along and always in control, cleverly, won at Plumpton 2m (4) gs in Nov beating Burrows Park (10-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Gannicus 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, no impression next, 8th of 18, 16 3/4l behind Movewiththetimes (11-4) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gs in Dec.
Cool Sky 7-1 (10-13) Prominent, in 3rd from 2 out, ridden before last, just held post, 2nd of 7, shd behind Divine Spear (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Ryeolliean 12-1 (10-8) Took keen hold, led, headed when not fluent 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 13, 25l behind Zulu Oscar (11-4) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Artifice Sivola (FR) 11-4 (11-5) Keen, made all, clear approaching last, ridden and ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Marquis Of Carabas (11-12) by 8l, 5 ran.