held up towards rear, effort after 3 out, soon pushed along, lost place 2 out, well beaten before last
chased leaders on inside, hit 5th, closed before 2 out, 3rd and no impression last, lost 3rd towards finish
led, not fluent 3rd, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, mistake last
held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, not fluent next, weakened after 3 out
chased leader, challenged 4th, outpaced and lost place before 2 out, kept on flat, went 3rd towards finish
refused to race
held up in last, not fluent 1st or 6th, headway from final bend to go 2nd 2 out, led before last, soon clear, easily
chased leaders on outside, challenged 6th, led before 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, soon no impression on winner, kept on
It’s more than two years since Soaring Glory was last in the winner’s enclosure but he is 8lb lower now. Yorksea is still 4lb higher than his last winning mark and has questions to answer now and MATTERHORN (NAP) has more scope. He makes his handicap debut today having made a good fist of trying to give 12lb to two subsequent winners at Taunton last month. Tapley and Brookie are both course and distance winners and the latter hails from a yard in red-hot form while Aurigny Mill won by more than five lengths at Wincanton. Our Champ looks in the handicapper’s grip but Chepstow third Rock House wouldn’t be far away if wind surgery has had the desired effect.
Soaring Glory (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Off the pace in mid-division, pushed along omitted 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 22 1/4l behind Geromino (10-2) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Brookie (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Chased leaders, challenging when mistake 2 out, led before last, reduced lead towards finish, won at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Amelia's Dance (11-2) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Matterhorn (FR) 4-9fav (11-12) On his toes, raced keenly and led, joined from 2 out, strongly pressed last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Ballee (11-0) at Taunton 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Rock House (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 7th, not much room briefly before 2 out, pressed for 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 3rd of 7, 9 1/2l behind Captain Teague (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f (1) gs in Oct.
Our Champ (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) In rear, closed up before 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, no real progress thereafter, 5th of 8, 11 1/4l behind Hansard (12-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Yorksea (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Refused to race, at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Aurigny Mill (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Travelled strongly, held up in rear, smooth headway to lead before 2 out, soon ridden and extended advantage, wandered around approaching last, pushed out run-in, won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating No No Tonic (11-5) by 5 1/2l, 8 ran.
Tapley 18-1 (10-6) Prominent, led home turn, pushed along 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 8, 10l behind Hansard (12-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
