tracked clear winner, closed 4f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace
raced wide tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression
made all, briefly tried to run out after 1f, soon 4 lengths clear, reduced lead 4f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on
close up, short lived effort approaching final furlong
dropped in leaving stalls, close up in rear, pushed along 2f out, ridden and headway entering final furlong, kept on one pace
The step up in trip has seen ALPHONSE LE GRANDE improve and Ed Dunlop’s charge won with something to spare at Wolverhampton last week. He’s taken to defy a 5lb rise with the remainder all unproven over this far. Vaxholm landed a double over a mile earlier though is 8lb higher than when last successful while Mashkuur is preferred to both Already Gone and Away Wit Da Fairys as he makes his handicap debut.
Mashkuur (IRE) 11-1 (9-3) Prominent, ridden and pressed leader well over 1f out, led briefly over 110 yards out, soon headed, kept on one pace, 3rd of 12, 4 1/4l behind Sound Angela (9-5) at Lingfield 1m stks (5) pol in Dec.
Alphonse Le Grande (IRE) 5-2fav (9-9) Close up, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f (6) pol in Dec beating Rockfire (9-7) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Already Gone (IRE) 10-3 (8-7) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on, 3rd of 4, 3 3/4l behind Neat And Dandy (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f (4) pol in Dec.
Vaxholm (IRE) 11-4fav (9-2) Slowly into stride, off the pace towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Cianciana (8-13) at Southwell 1m (6) pol in Dec.
Away Wit Da Fairys (IRE) 150-1 (9-0) Prominent until halfway, soon pushed along, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 13, 16 1/2l behind Claymore (9-0) at Newmarket 7f stks (4) sft in Oct.