Having chased home smart stablemate Birchdale at Warwick, Clarendon Street easily landed the odds in lesser company at Wetherby. There should be more to come but he faces no easy task giving 6lb to DIOMEDE DES MOTTES and he won’t be much of a price. Second to a useful sort at Exeter, a subsequent third at Newbury is working out well and a first victory under Rules can’t be far away for Dan Skelton’s charge. Southern Sam is also worthy of consideration as he was runner-up to a subsequent Grade 2 winner at Uttoxeter in November and his rider dropped his whip when he was third next time at Ascot.
Clarendon Street (IRE) 2-5fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, jumped right 5th, led 3 out, driven clear when not fluent last, won at Wetherby 2m 5f mdn (5) gs in Jan beating Est Illic (11-4) by 10l, 9 ran.
Diomede Des Mottes (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, left 3rd 2 out, hung left between last 2, weakened before blundered at the last, 3rd of 13, 9 3/4l behind Tidal Flow (11-4) at Newbury 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Golden Sovereign (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, ridden and no impression on leaders before 3 out, went modest 3rd flat, 3rd of 14, 26 1/4l behind Captain Drake (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (5) hvy in Dec.
Heresthething (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, headway before 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, left 3rd last, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Chez Hans (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f mdn (4) gf in Dec.
Mr Palmtree (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Held up behind, pushed along after 4 out, never involved, 6th of 12, dist behind The Captains Inn (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f (4) gd in Jan.
Rizzardo 100-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led before 3rd, headed before 4 out, led again 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 5th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Smackwater Jack (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
Slanemore Hill (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Mainly jumped right in rear, ridden along 7th, tailed off when pulled up soon after 9th, at Newcastle 2m 7f (4) gs in Jan.
Southern Sam 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, every chance when rider dropped whip approaching final 2f, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Ask Dillon (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f mdn (3) sft in Dec.
Two Sams (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Always in rear, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Dashel Drasher (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) gs in Jan.
Witham 9-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, outpaced over 5f out, stayed on well closing stages, never a threat, 4th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Second Time Around (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (6) gd in May.
