tracked leaders in 3rd, every chance last, no extra run-in
held up in touch, headway 6th, led after 3 out, pressed from next, kept on well run-in
held up towards rear, tracked leaders 4th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, soon ridden, one pace
led to 6th, soon lost place, tailed off from 3 out
always towards rear
with leader, led 6th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
New Year's Eve has picked up a couple of novice events but was well beaten in a handicap in between, albeit in better company than this. The more experienced RUMBLE OF THUNDER may prove a tough nut to crack here given he won at Musselburgh a fortnight ago and has been upped only 4lb. Kodicil scored over track and trip last month but is 7lb higher today and Changing The Guard, who had an entry yesterday, looks high enough in the weights back over hurdles after landing a double over fences last summer. Kayaan has the past form to figure but Mulbrook hasn't raced since June.
Rumble Of Thunder (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, ridden to lead 3 out, driven out, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft beating Sud Pacifique (10-10) by 2l, 6 ran.
New Year's Eve 6-4fav (11-8) Took keen hold, always prominent, not fluent 5th, led 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Anton Chigurh (10-13) by 8l, 8 ran.
Tidal Way (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, driven over 2f out, soon lost place, 10th of 16, 12l behind Pass Muster (11-1) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Kayaan 20-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear on inner, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, well behind Master Of The Game (11-3) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Jan.
Mubrook (USA) 12-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 4th, lost 2nd after 3 out, no extra next, 6th of 18, 19l behind Stopped Out (10-13) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
Wily Fox 7-4fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, not fluent and lost place next, left 3rd before 7th, closed down on 2nd from 2 out, no chance with winner, 3rd of 5, 45l behind Virak (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Kodicil (IRE) 11-10fav (11-4) Led, hit 3 out, riden and headed well before last, no chance with winner when lost 2nd before last, one pace, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Akdam (11-1) at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.
Changing The Guard 13-2 (11-9) Led, ridden and headed after last, under pressure in 3rd straight, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Rebel Fitz (11-9) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs hvy in Aug.
Kings Bayonet 13-8fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden before last, one pace, 4th of 8, 10l behind Well Sharp (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May '12.
Experimentalist 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 3 out, every chance approaching next, stayed on same pace, 4th of 12, 15l behind Junction Fourteen (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
