pressed leader on outside, led narrowly after 4 out, driven and headed when hung right turning in, lost place 2 out, weakened flat
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace in 4th after last, no impression
mid-division on outside, outpaced after 4 out, behind from next
led, headed narrowly after 4 out, led again turning in, driven before 2 out, ridden and headed after last, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish
behind, headway 4 out, driven to challenge on outside next, soon ridden, led after last, kept on under pressure flat
mid-division on inside, lost place 4 out, soon behind, tailed off next
mid-division, driven after 4 out, headway under pressure after 2 out, ridden and stayed on into 2nd towards finish, not reach winner
always behind, struggling 4 out, never involved
tracked leaders on inside, driven 3 out, one pace and no impression from next, weakened flat
mid-division, headway and in touch 4 out, outpaced when not fluent next, soon weakened, behind when blundered last
Baracalu arrives on a hat-trick while John Constable has tumbled down the weights, though is clearly not the force of old. BEAN IN TROUBLE makes his handicap debut on a fair mark after finishing second in a maidens at Plumpton and Wetherby and he makes more appeal than veteran chaser Top Gamble, even though the top weight hasn’t been disgraced in a couple of run over hurdles this winter. Westbrook Bertie could figure if a wind operation has had the desired effect but Nordic Combined continues to frustrate and isn’t built to carry big weights. Don't Shout may find this too short.
Top Gamble (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Led, strongly challenged from 3 out, headed before next, weakened last, 6th of 8, 6l behind Applesandpierres (11-8) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Nordic Combined (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along and lost place after 4 out, switched outside and headway before 2 out, every chance last, ridden and no extra flat, 4th of 13, 5 1/4l behind Repetitio (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Westbrook Bertie 9-1 (11-8) Raced keenly, chased winner, flattened 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd 2 out, weakened between last 2, 4th and beaten when blundered last, 6th of 7, 17 3/4l behind Flashing Glance (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Baracalu (FR) 5-2 (11-5) Led until after 3rd, led again before 3 out, easily, won at Leicester 2m (4) hvy in Jan beating Percy (11-6) by 15l, 6 ran.
Bean In Trouble 4-1 (11-5) In touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, every chance next, not fluent last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Coconut Splash (11-5) at Wetherby 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Linger (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Cervaro Mix (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Hijran (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Southwell 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
John Constable (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, modest 6th before last, no chance, 6th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Back On The Lash (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Don't Shout (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Prominent, led 4th, mistake and headed 6th, ridden and lost place on long run before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 13th of 16, dist behind Duc De Beauchene (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Fair To Dream 80-1 (11-4) Mid-division on outside, closed before 5th, every chance 3 out, weakened before last, 7th of 12, 33 1/2l behind Hijack (11-10) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Jan.
