in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
made most, ridden clear entering final 2f, comfortable
led early, tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 3f out, weakened final furlong
raced wide, in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out
dwelt, headway on outer to track winner after 1f, pushed along 5f out, ridden and weakened 2f out
in touch, headway 3f out, soon chase winner, no impression and one pace final furlong
close up, ridden and lost touch 4f out, soon behind, tailed off
None of these arrive in particularly good form and last year’s winner Barye gave the impression a longer trip would suit better nowadays when fifth over 1m6f last time, though he still finished ahead of Novis Adventus and SUNBLAZER. The latter makes more appeal over today’s distance given he was second at Kempton last month off today’s mark. Hamelin is struggling at present and Pinzolo is getting no closer despite slipping down the weights while Gavlar needs further and Luv U Whatever was well beaten on his reappearance. Rydan has not raced since September and though he won at Salisbury in the same month is 10lb higher back on the all-weather.
Barye 66-1 (9-13) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Watersmeet (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Hamelin (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) Soon tracked leaders, led over 7f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened, last of 8, 19 1/4l behind Rock Steady (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Pinzolo 6-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 7 1/2l behind Battalion (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (2) pol in Nov.
Novis Adventus (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Held up in mid-division, headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 11, 5 3/4l behind Watersmeet (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Sunblazer (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Held up last of main group, good headway on wide outside chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 11, 6 1/2l behind Watersmeet (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Luv U Whatever 33-1 (9-8) Raced wide early, went 2nd over 10f out, ridden over 3f out, lost 2nd inside final 3f, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 21 1/4l behind Prince Of Arran (8-6) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Rydan (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Slowly away, behind, ridden and no impression inside final 3f, 5th of 8, 14l behind Lord Ben Stack (9-12) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Gavlar 25-1 (9-3) Soon held up, in touch, on outside, closed to press for 2nd after 6f, driven over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 12, 26 1/2l behind Higher Power (9-4) at Kempton 2m hcp (2) pol in Nov.