held up mid-division, slightly hampered 6th, headway approaching 3 out, reminder after 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd close home, not trouble winner
led 2nd to 3rd, with leader, led 13th to 14th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
prominent, lost place 8th, behind from 4 out
held up, soon behind, reminders 4 out and after 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, never troubled leaders
prominent, niggled along 13th, ridden and weakened after 4 out
held up in rear, progress on inside 4 out, switched right and weakened before 2 out
held up in touch, led 14th, ridden approaching last, driven out
held up mid-division on inside, steady progress 13th, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, steady progress on inside approaching 10th, pushed along to chase winner 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on one pace
held up in rear, headway after 4 out, one pace flat
prominent until fell 6th
held up and behind, mistake 3rd, not fluent 8th, pushed along after 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to 2nd, led 3rd, hit 5th, headed 13th, weakened after 4 out, eased and pulled up before 3 out
Paul Nicholls has only won this Grade 3 handicap once so far and that was back in 2005. But the Ditcheat handler is going all out to double his tally this year, saddling four of the 14 declared runners. Adrien Du Pont is only a pound higher than when successful over course and distance last season and has been lightly raced this campaign. He’s the choice of Harry Cobden but a case can also be made for BLACK CORTON. Bryony Frost teams up again with the top weight, who has been given a chance by the handicapper on a track that suits his front-running style. Whatmore and Just A Sting are both fancied to run well from lower down the weights. The former remains unexposed over fences and the latter has won three of his seven chase starts, including when beating Highway One O One and Sametegal here last time. Kildisart is the type to run well in a race like this and the progressive Dashing Perk is only a couple of pounds out of the handicap. Double Shuffle runs his best races here and his trainer has a good record in this contest, though the 10-year-old is on a long losing run. Talkischeap has plenty to prove off his current mark.
Black Corton (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Led until before 7th, pressed leader, in front again before 11th, pushed along when mistake and headed 2 out, weakened into 4th at the last, 4th of 10, 9l behind Regal Encore (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Talkischeap (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, wet 3rd 4 out, weakened after 2 out, modest 3rd, 3rd of 4, 30 1/4l behind Santini (11-8) at Sandown 3m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Crievehill (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Raced keenly on inside, tracked leader until 5th, chased leaders, jumped slowly 9th, weakened 11th, tailed off 3 out, 9th of 10, 34 3/4l behind Regal Encore (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Kildisart (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Prominent until lost place 8th, behind from 12th, 6th of 8, 37 3/4l behind Domaine De L'Isle (10-13) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Double Shuffle (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Chased leader until 8th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out, mistake next, tailed off, last of 5, 37l behind Riders Onthe Storm (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (2) hvy in Dec.
Romain De Senam (FR) 85-40 (11-12) Held up, went 3rd from 6th, outpaced normal 3 out, weakened before last, 4th of 5, 13 1/4l behind Pacific De Baune (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Mister Malarky 5-1 (10-13) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up last, at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Adrien Du Pont (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in 5th, steady headway on inside 3 out, pushed along before weakened next, finished tired, 4th of 5, 25l behind Riders Onthe Storm (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (2) hvy in Dec.
Highway One O One (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 6th until 7th, led before 9th, headed 10th, lost place 13th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Sametegal (FR) 13-2 (11-8) Chased leaders until mistake 1st, off the pace in mid-division, headway 8th, chased leaders 10th, ridden in 3rd before 3 out, weakened run-in, 4th of 11, 1 3/4l behind Just A Sting (11-1) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Whatmore 9-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not clear run after 3 out, headway 2 out, went 3rd last, no impression, 3rd of 7, 13 1/2l behind Two For Gold (11-0) at Warwick 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Just A Sting (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 8th, chased leaders 10th, chased clear leader 14th, pushed along before 3 out, closer next, challenged last, ridden to lead run-in, stayed on gamely, all out, won at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Quarenta (11-2) by hd, 11 ran.
Azzerti (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Raced wide and towards rear, never on terms, 12th of 14, dist behind Ok Corral (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Dashing Perk 7-4fav (11-12) Led, joined 2 out, ridden and headed last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Mercy Mercy Me (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
