led, hit 6th, headed 4 out, mistake next, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, never on terms
held up in rear, headway 4 out, every chance approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, led after next, headed 2 out, rallied flat, kept on well
behind, struggling 6th, soon beaten
tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed after next, led again 2 out, hard driven, held on gamely
mid-division, slow 1st, lost place approaching 5th, tailed off from 3 out
in touch, hard driven 3 out, weakened next
tracked leader, weakened 3 out
Star of Angels' fourth at Newbury came in a better race and he has to go on the short-list here. Take The Breeze has an alternative engagement over fences at Doncaster, however, while this is a big ask for Timesawastin following a lay-off. Lamps won easily of soft ground and should go well again and makes more appeal than El Dancer and out-and-out stayer Snake Charmer over this trip, though Michael Blake also runs Dune Shine under a 7lb claimer off bottom weight. But it's GRAFITE who gets the vote as he's been thereabouts off similar marks in his last four runs over hurdles and may get through this ground better than most, including the in-form Westlin' Winds.
Timesawastin (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, effort on inside when not fluent next, lost place 2 out, weakened last, 10th of 21, 35l behind Cape Tribulation (11-12) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Apr.
Star Of Angels 20-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression before last, 4th of 10, 16l behind At Fishers Cross (10-10) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft.
Lamps 8-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway after 3 out, tracked leading pair well before 2 out, led 2 out, came clear before last, eased towards finish, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov beating Gallox Bridge (11-8) by 17l, 17 ran.
El Dancer (GER) 20-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, steady headway 7th, chased leaders 4 out, weakened after next, 8th of 13, 31l behind Goulanes (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov.
Sircozy (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, outpaced before 3 out, headway 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 9l behind Romeo Americo (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Grafite 5-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead before 2 out, headed run in, kept on, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Quaddick Lake (10-8) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Snake Charmer 13-2 (11-10) Hampered and left 2nd at 2nd, chased winner, ridden 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Bin End (10-11) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft.
Westlin' Winds (IRE) 7-4 (11-2) Tracked leader, ridden to disputed lead from 3 out, gained upper hand run in, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f clm hdl (5) sft in Nov beating Xenophon (10-10) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Dune Shine 5-2fav (11-5) Led, headed before 2nd, tracked leaders, led before 3 out, blundered 2 out, clear before last, kept on and driven out, won at Stratford 2m 3f cnd/am sll hdl (5) sft in Nov beating Trendelenburg (11-9) by 4l, 8 ran.
Take The Breeze (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5 out, outpaced next, 4th and beaten when hit 3 out, lost moderate 4th towards finish, 5th of 11, 29l behind According To Pete (11-2) at Haydock 3m hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
