close up, ridden 2 out, hit next, weakened run in and lost 2 places
towards rear, flattened 3 out, ridden and ran on to go 3rd towards finish
in touch, pushed along and outpaced3 out, soon in rear, ridden and rallied last, ran on to go 4th towards finish
prominent, hit 2nd, reminders 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
raced wide in touch, weakened 3 out, soon behind, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, soon weakened
in rear, weakened 3 out, tailed off and walked over the line
led, ridden 3 out, headed before next, weakened run in
raced wide towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, led last, ridden and ran on
raced wide close up, pushed along to lead approaching 2 out, ridden and headed next, kept on one pace
Despite having had just two subsequent starts over timber, The Vollan is 2lb lower than when landing a Worcester handicap in July. Storm Of Light landed a Uttoxeter maiden and started favourite for a Leicester handicap where softer ground looked against him. Romeo Brown won a Hexham handicap by 14l and went up a stone but then ran very well in a Wetherby handicap. He ran poorly at Doncaster last time but is better than that. Skylanna Breeze completed a double in 2020 but didn't show much in two starts last spring while the maiden Steady Away ran moderately at Warwick after placed efforts here and at Newton Abbot. LE GRAND LION was making his handicap debut when scoring over 3m1f at Huntingdon where he built up a clear lead and held on gamely when challenged. He'll be 4lb higher with jockey arrangements taken into consideration but looks the one to beat.
The Vollan (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) In touch in rear, ridden 3 out(normal 4 out ) weakening when hit 2 out(normal 3 out), 4th of 6, 15l behind Somekindofstar (11-8) at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Storm Of Light (IRE) 9-4fav (11-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway after 7th, ridden before 2 out, went 3rd from last, no impression, 3rd of 10, 8 1/4l behind Present Value (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Romeo Brown 10-1 (11-6) Held up, pushed along before 3 out, edged left before 2 out, no impression, 9th of 15, 36 3/4l behind Jay Jay Reilly (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Florrie Knox (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Prominent, outpaced 3 out, no impression 2 out, kept on flat, 5th of 12, 11l behind Go Steady (11-7) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Skylanna Breeze (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway into midfield 4th, ridden after 4 out, lost touch 3 out, no extra, 7th of 10, 36 3/4l behind Ratfacemcdougall (11-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Steady Away (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 5th, challenged and awkward 7th, lost 2nd 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied and left modest 4th at the last, 4th of 14, 15 3/4l behind Glimpse Of Gala (11-8) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Floki 22-1 (11-9) Held up, struggling 3 out, well beaten before next, 7th of 10, 23 3/4l behind Present Value (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Le Grand Lion (FR) 10-1 (11-9) With leader, led 4 out, hard pressed 2 out, soon edged left, edged left again flat, stayed on gamely, won at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Flexi Furlough (11-11) by nk, 7 ran.
Schalke 9-2 (11-12) Rear of mid-division and wide, not fluent 3rd, headway last, no impression, 7th of 17, 5 1/4l behind Pittsburg (10-0) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Shah An Shah 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on outside, not fluent 2nd, slow and lost place 7th, struggling 12th, behind when pulled up before 14th, at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
