chased leaders, fell 3rd
pressed leader, led 10th, headed and not fluent next, every chance 4 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, good jump to go 2nd 3 out, soon switched left, challenging when in tight and hit last, led flat, stayed on
held up, closed 4th, not fluent 9th, mistake and weakened 2 out
led, jumped left at times, landed steeply 1st, slow 6th, headed 10th, led next, pressed last, headed flat, held towards finish
jumped left in rear, behind 9th, tailed off 14th, pulled up after
Steel Wave won at Stratford two runs ago but is not easy to predict and has a lot to find with San Agustin on subsequent Market Rasen running. Clondaw Pretender ran his best race so far over fences at Newcastle last month but GUILLEMOT is preferred. A close second over hurdles at Chepstow last month, he’s not highly tried on his chasing bow.
Guillemot (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, led after 2 out, headed last, every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 11, nk behind Mr Washington (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Artemision 28-1 (11-8) Chased leaders early, lost place before 3rd, pushed along and dropped to last after 4th, lost touch after 8th and soon pulled up, at Huntingdon 3m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
San Agustin (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Prominent in chasing group, mistake 6th, went 2nd at 9th, driven along after 4 out, lost 2nd before next, rallied into 2nd and challenged run-in, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Fresh New Dawn (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Steel Wave (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Held up and behind, closer tracking leaders 7th, outpaced soon after 4 out, plugged on and went modest 4th run-in, 4th of 9, 23 1/4l behind Fresh New Dawn (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Clondaw Pretender 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, pushed along 3 out, steady headway 2 out, kept on last, always held, 2nd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Gun Merchant (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Iggy Iggins 250-1 (10-12) Off the pace towards rear, awkward 5th, tailed off when went badly left and hit 3 out, 9th of 11, dist behind Key To The Moon (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Oct.