raced on inside, tracked leaders, 2nd approaching 3 out, led after 3 out, headed last, kept on same pace run-in
held up in rear, some headway before 3, soon beaten and pulled up
chased leaders, went 4th after 3 out, soon pushed along and outpaced, no danger after
led, not fluent 1st, headed next, chased leader, went left 4th, lost 2nd approaching 3 out, weakened soon after 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along after 4th, weakened before 3 out, plugged on
tracked leader, led 2nd, headed well before 2 out, chased leader until hung left before 2 out, kept on same pace after
held up, steady headway 5th, 3rd 3 out, 2nd approaching 2 out where mistake, ridden betweeen last two, hung left and led last, ridden clear run-in
SIROP DE MENTHE looks very progressive and can gain his third victory in a fortnight. Sue Gardner's charge won easily over this trip at Huntingdon then defied a penalty over 2m3f on this track three days later with an even more emphatic victory. Another penalty looks manageable before he goes on to better things. Never Say Never escapes a penalty for his recent victory at Exeter as it was in a conditionals' race. He was well supported on the testing ground and in receipt of so much weight has to be a danger. Thunder Sheik has won four times in his career - all on ground much faster than he'll encounter here - but Mr Fitzroy's only success to date came on heavy going over the track and trip around a year ago. Bladoun is better than he showed on his reappearance but is still 12lb higher than for his only success.
Sirop De Menthe (FR) 5-4fav (11-1) Took keen, hold tracking leaders, went 2nd 4th, led going well 2 out, soon clear, very easily, won at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Nov beating Reblis (10-5) by 12l, 6 ran.
New Street (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden and one pace before last, weakened last 100 yards, 5th of 8, 11 3/4l behind Baby King (11-2) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Thunder Sheik (IRE) 9-2fav (11-8) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, led 2 out, soon hard pressed and strongly challenged all the way to the finish, held on gamely, won at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Arty Campbell (10-8) by hd, 8 ran.
Bladoun (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, 12th of 13, 29 1/2l behind Sir Valentino (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Mr Fitzroy (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, pushed along before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Baron Alco (11-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Just When 13-2 (9-12) Held up mid-division, pushed along over 1f out, soon faded, last of 10, 12 1/4l behind Ickymasho (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Never Says Never 9-4fav (11-8) In rear, headway before 4 out, went 2nd from 3 out, led last, ridden and hung right run-in, held on near finish, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Oscar Prairie (11-9) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
