mid-division on outside, closed before 4th, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent, strong challenge 3 out, mistake last, no impression on winner flat
prominent, not much room 1st, not fluent 5th and lost some ground, not fluent next, held before 3 out, stayed on same pace
made all, not fluent 1st, pressed 3 out, ridden clear after last, edged left towards finish, stayed on well
held up in rear, jumped left 3rd, shaken up after 6th, some headway before 3 out but no impression, went 4th and stayed on flat
towards rear, last and getting behind from 5th, well behind after next, tailed off
towards rear, headway after 6th, switched left and shaken up after 3 out, never able to get on terms, kept on
tracked leaders on inside, raced keenly, shaken up in 3rd and held from 2 out, kept on, no impression on winner
NonRunner
Destrier showed a bit more last time at Lingfield but MR GREY SKY’s all-the-way win at Leicester looks solid form and, with the going in his favour again, a double could be on the cards despite a 6lb rise. Vocal Duke seeks a fourth win of the campaign but A Distant Place’s victory in a maiden at Hereford in November came over a longer trip. Black Poppy was all out to win at the same track last month but the four-year-old Coolnaugh Haze is respected having got off the mark at Plumpton with a bit in hand.
Duca De Thaix (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, lost touch 6th, well adrift from 7th, pulled up before 2 out, at Warwick 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
A Distant Place (IRE) 8-15fav (11-4) Chased leader, not fluent 2nd, led final bend, drew clear flat, comfortably, won at Hereford 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Nov beating Chanceux (11-4) by 5l, 7 ran.
River Bray (IRE) 80-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 10, 24 3/4l behind Dorking Boy (10-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Mr Grey Sky (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Made all, not fluent last, drew clear flat, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Made For You (11-12) by 4 3/4l, 9 ran.
Destrier (FR) 150-1 (10-2) Well off the pace in last pair, closer on inside and awkward 2 out, plugged on run-in, 5th of 12, 10 1/4l behind Metier (11-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Chaptal (FR) 9-1 (11-9) Held up behind leaders, jumped left at times, closed on inside 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 6, 15l behind Raffles Gitane (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Vocal Duke (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, never dangerous, 7th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Donya (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Coolnaugh Haze (IRE) 9-4 (10-7) Made all, 5 lengths clear 2 out, left all of 10 lengths clear next, ridden out(all hurdles in straight omitted, only 4 jumped), won at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gd in Jan beating Cuban Cigar (10-7) by 3l, 10 ran.
Black Poppy 5-6fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, led turning in, joined last, ridden and narrowly headed run-in, rallied gamely under pressure to lead again close home, won at Hereford 2m hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Just The Man (11-12) by nk, 9 ran.
