held up in mid-division, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden in 5th well over 1f out, one pace and no impression when wandered inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway 3f out, chased leading pair over 2f out until ridden well over 1f out, ridden and one pace in 4th when edged left over 1f out
chased leaders, pushed along well over 3f out, ridden and lost 3rd over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased winner, ridden over 1f out, soon dropped to 3rd but still challenging, stayed on well in closing stages, just held
held up in last pair, pushed along 5f out, good headway on inside 2f out, chased leading pair well over 1f out, ridden to lead narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on, headed post
took keen hold tracking leaders on inside, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, always in rear, tailed off and eased inside final furlong
led, ridden over 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, rallied gamely to lead again post
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
FEB THIRTYFIRST (NAP) drops down a grade and can return to winning ways. He landed a course and distance double at the start of the year and found only one too good back here last time. Ballyfarsoon finished just ahead of Black Iceman when third at Wolverhampton last month and the latter has since beaten Layline when third at Chelmsford. Mighty Mambo went close at Kempton over today's trip in November and has subsequently scored over hurdles while Oakbank was placed over 2m on more than one occasion last year.
Layline (IRE) 7-1 (8-11) Close up, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, rallied to go 3rd over 1f out, no impression after, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Haines (9-3) at Southwell 1m 6f app hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) fbs.
Mighty Mambo 3-1fav (9-9) In touch, driven over 4f out, stayed on to challenge and every chance over 1f out until inside final furlong, no extra final 100 yards, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 9, 6l behind Guards Chapel (9-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Wily Fox 7-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden over 7f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Suprise Vendor (8-11) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Feb Thirtyfirst 4-1 (8-9) Hampered start held up, ridden over 5f out, headway on outer 2f out, ran on to go 2nd final strides, no threat to winner, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Valid Reason (9-7) at Lingfield 2m hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Ballyfarsoon (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway on outside 8f out, went 2nd over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Wildomar (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) in Mar.
Black Iceman 4-1 (8-7) Held up mid-division, went 3rd over 3f out, one pace and no impression, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Chloe's Image (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6).
Tornado Battle 50-1 (8-7) Mid-division, weakening when hampered over 1f out, 10th of 12, 13l behind Nolecce (8-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6).
Oakbank (USA) 7-1 (8-5) Keen in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 25l behind Noguchi (9-10) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Band Of Thunder 7-2 (8-9) Chased leader, driven along over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 9l behind Whenever (10-0) at Chepstow 2m hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Aug '11.
Sea Tiger 16-1 (8-1) Close up, ridden 2f out, faded final furlong, 7th of 9, 5l behind Salient (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 4f app hcp 0-60 (6) pol.