always handy, driven after 3 out, led 2 out, hard ridden flat, headed close home
always prominent, led 4 out, headed narrowly 2 out, driven flat, stayed on, led again close home
held up behind leaders, headway on outside 3 out, close 3rd after 2 out, no extra flat
led, pecked and headed 4 out, still close up 2 out, weakened flat
held up behind leaders, not fluent 4 out, beaten 2 out, weakened before last
NonRunner
NonRunner
Patroclus was pulled up on his chasing bow but looked in need of the run and can’t be ignored in a wide-open handicap. Cobra De Mai continues to frustrate but can’t get much lower in the weights. FLEGMATIK has only won once over fences so far but is now 3lb lower and it looked as though wind surgery had had the desired effect last time at Kempton. Family Business beat Crealion and Kilbrook over course and distance three weeks ago but there is little between the trio on the revised terms and Guy drops a grade and shouldn’t be far away if forgiven a poor run at Ascot in December.
Guy (IRE) 7-2cfav (10-7) Chased leaders, mistake 7th, went prominent after 10th, ridden 4 out, hit 3 out and soon weakened, 6th of 9, dist behind Palmers Hill (10-11) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Patroclus (IRE) 11-4jfav (10-11) Led until hit 3rd and headed, lost 2nd after 7th (water), chased leaders, hit 9th, mistake and weakened 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Kilbrook (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Held up in last pair, steady headway before 4 out, 3rd before 2 out, stayed on run-in, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Family Business (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Prominent, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, kept on at 2 out, weakened after final fence, 6th of 10, 15 1/4l behind Sidi Ismael (11-12) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Family Business (FR) 10-3fav (11-1) Held up in last trio, smooth headway on inside before 4 out, challenged in 2nd and pecked 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on well run-in, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Crealion (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Flegmatik (FR) 5-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, went third 4 out, pushed along to challenge approaching 2 out, ridden before last, kept on flat, 3rd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Five Star Getaway (10-11) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Crealion (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Raced keenly, led, ridden and headed 2 out, chased winner, ridden and one pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Family Business (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
