held up in rear, under pressure after 9th, soon beaten, tailed off when pulled up 5 out
tracked leader, under pressure after 3 out, soon weakened, modest 2nd
held up, driven after 9th, soon beaten, tailed off when pulled up 5 out
made all, drew clear 4 out, soon well in command, eased closing stages
chased clear leaders in 3rd, driven 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mistakes in rear, under pressure 10th, soon beaten and tailed off, remote 3rd
Soft going probably didn’t suit Compadre at Market Rasen on Boxing Day and he’s better judged on an earlier victory at Huntingdon. Bestwork has regressed since the turn of the year and Vocaliser looked in the handicapper’s grip at Ascot, though is back in the right grade. Cajun Fiddle has been well beaten over fences so far so we’ll take a chance on MINELLA TWEET, who won off a higher mark at Southwell last May and has run fairly well in a couple of previous visits to this track.
Vocaliser (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Took keen hold, chased leaders, mistakes 5th and 9th, left 3rd and slightly hampered 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 6, 21 1/4l behind Ashoka (10-4) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Compadre (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Held up behind, headway on outside 9th, in touch next, weakening when hampered 3 out, pulled up before next, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Cajun Fiddle (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 10th, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, 23 1/2l behind The Tailgater (12-1) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Bestwork (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Held up, good headway on outside chasing leaders 12th, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Conna Cross (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Tikken Away (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Towards rear, ridden and struggling before 2 out, switched right and plugged on into never dangerous 5th last, 5th of 13, 11 1/4l behind Alberta (11-8) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Minella Tweet (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Held up last, headway on inside into 4th 4 out, weakened last, 5th of 7, 5l behind Leith Hill Lad (11-1) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) sft in Apr.