tracked leaders, led after 4th, headed 5th, soon led again, mistake and headed 3 out, mistake 2 out and again when demoted to 3rd last, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
held up in touch, mistake and lost ground on leaders 4th, headway into 3rd when stumbled just after 3 out, led last, ran on well
led, hit 4th, soon headed, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway after 5th, went 4th 3 out, weakened next
held up, reminders after 4th, behind next, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent and behind from 5th, tailed off
reluctant to race and given sharp reminders to get going, went prominent after 2nd, led 5th, soon headed, led 3 out, edged right 2 out, headed last, soon folded, lost 2nd flat
prominent, ridden approaching 5th, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 4th, ridden before next, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, lost place when jumping slowly 3rd, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Mayolynn, Me Fein and Mandalay Prince all finished down the field behind Gibb River at Huntingdon in November. Barney Curley's grey comes out best at the weights here but ran no sort of race when again finishing behind Caroline Bailey's mare at Warwick last month and is one to be wary of now. Mut'Ab wears blinkers for the first time over hurdles but appears to be regressing, while the same can be said of Mauritino. In common with those at the foot of the handicap, top weight Easton Clump hasn't shown much so the vote goes to IMPERIAL ROYALE. Though he last won over this C&D exactly five years ago, Lee Edwards' mount has been lightly raced since and races off a 14lb lower mark today.
Easton Clump 50-1 (11-6) In touch main group, left tracking clear leader 4th, led after 7th, headed 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Buck Mulligan (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Mayolynn (USA) 15-2 (10-11) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led 5th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, left 2nd last, 2nd of 9, 16l behind Lively Fling (11-9) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Mauritino (GER) 4-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway on outside to chase winner 5th until after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Eastwell Smiles (11-3) at Warwick 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Mut'ab (USA) 16-1 (10-12) Held up in 5th, no progress 3 out, mistake next, 6th of 7, 31l behind Shinrock Hill (11-5) at Lingfield 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Me Fein 12-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, not fluent 4th or 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 5th of 9, 48l behind Lively Fling (11-9) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Mandalay Prince 100-1 (11-5) Jumped slowly at times, always behind, lost touch from 4th, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Non Dom (11-5) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Imperial Royale (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 14, 44l behind Smokey George (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl (3yo+) (5) hvy in Dec.
Aboukir Bay (IRE) 28-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, not much room and lost place afer 5th, well beaten after 3 out, last of 9, 39l behind Scrum V (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jan.
Pezula 40-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, ridden and weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Night In Milan (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
Colinette 33-1 (10-0) Blundered 8th always behind, tailed off, 7th of 17, 41l behind Gunship (10-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
Young Valentino 66-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders and keen, weakened halfway, 13th of 15, well behind Mister Right (11-0) at Lingfield 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) fm in Sep '07.
