tracked leaders, ridden 7th, weakened 10th
held up, headway 9th to track leaders, weakened 3 out, unseated rider 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden 7th, weakened after 9th
made all, jumped left from 6th, challenged last, ran on well
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up mid-division, headway 7th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace
held up, steady headway after 9th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, every chance, not fluent last, switched left flat, no impression
in touch, ridden, weakened 10th
held up tracking leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, switched left approaching last, no impression
always towards rear, mistake 3 out
always in rear
Nonrunner
Lorient Express has been in good form of late and although beaten, in an admittedly better race, at Sandown last time is given another chance back here with Master Rex and The Local rated the main dangers. The selection may have found conditions at the Esher venue too testing for him last time and the return to this sharper track and better ground should suit. Joey Tribbiani has more to do than when scoring at Stratford last time and, as that was in September, he may need the run today. Le Seychellois has failed to complete in his last two starts and is hard to recommend with any confidence, while Saafend Rocket may just need another outing to put him spot on. O'Toole has yet to sparkle in two starts this term, while Almaydan probably needs some help from the handicapper. The Local was good value for his win last time but that was on a softer surface and he may struggle to follow up off his new mark on this faster ground. Master Rex is closely matched with the selection on running at Wincanton on Boxing Day and is bound to be popular but Lorient Express won with something in hand that day and is taken to resume winning ways now that he again has conditions to suit.
Hot Shots (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Mistakes, in rear, reminders 8th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Impek (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Le Seychellois (FR) 7-2jt-fav (10-0) Tended to jump left, tracked leading pair until ridden after 8th, behind when jumped left 3 out and next and pulled up at the last in race won by Armaturk (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs (B) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
Almaydan 11-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 13, 15l behind Kelrev (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Palua 33-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, led 3rd, headed 6th, chased winner to 9th, hit 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 12, 15l behind Dempsey (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Master Rex 4-1 (11-12) Prominent, with leader 3rd, chased winner approaching 3 out, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Lorient Express (10-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Dec.
Lorient Express (FR) 9-2 (10-8) Held up in mid-division, steady headway after 4 out, weakened after next, 5th of 12, 25l behind Dempsey (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Jacks Craic (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, weakening when blundered badly 3 out, 4th of 6, 26l behind Le Volfoni (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) sft.
Saafend Rocket (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, no impression from 3 out, 4th of 9, 18l behind Demi Beau (11-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec.
O'Toole (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out, left poor 3rd 2 out, 6th of 11, 18l behind Taranis (10-9) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (C) gd in Nov.
Harry Potter (GER) 7-1 (10-1) In rear, in touch, ridden after 5th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 7, 17l behind Caracciola (11-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) sft in Oct.
Joey Tribbiani (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Held up, mistake 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to lead flat, ran on, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Sept beating Toi Express (11-5) by 3l, 9 ran.
The Local 6-1 (11-4) Made all, clear 3 out, 15 lengths clear and ridden 2 out, finished tired, unchallenged, won at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Dec beating Bishop's Bridge (11-4) by 3l, 13 ran.
New Bird (GER) 20-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, ridden after 7th, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 23l behind Island Faith (11-6) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.
