tracked leader, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace
led, ridden and joined 2 out, headed next, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, pushed along 4 out, ridden and weakened 2 out
towards rear, headway 7th, chased leader 4 out, every chance 2 out, led next, ran on
mistake 2nd in rear, ploughed through 7th and fell
in touch, pushed along when in rear 4 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, mistake 6th and lost place, soon towards rear, weakened 2 out
Fidelio Vallis has his first start since 2021 and debuts for a new yard having landed a hat-trick when with Paul Nicholls. The latter runs Friend Or Foe in this but he finished behind GOLD DE BOIS when Iain Jardine’s charge placed in a higher grade chase at Doncaster last week and is taken to go one better today. Dreams Of Home narrowly beat Return Ticket at Kelso with Pay The Piper back in third before struggling at Sandown while Hasankey is preferred to Voix Du Reve of the remaining pair.
Friend Or Foe (FR) 17-2 (11-10) In touch, every chance 4 out, driven along over 3 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Malystic (11-10) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Fidelio Vallis (FR) 3-1 (12-3) Led, bad mistake 1st, hit 7th, pushed along before 4 out, headed 4 out, weakened from after 3 out, 4th of 6, 12 1/2l behind Not Available (11-1) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Dreams Of Home (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Held up tracking leaders, left modest 3rd 2 out, weakened and lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 7, 15 1/2l behind Xcitations (11-6) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Hasankey (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) In touch, pushed along and struggling in 5th when not much room 3 out, ridden home turn, went left last, weakened run-in, 6th of 8, 19 1/4l behind Amarillo Sky (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Pay The Piper (IRE) 7-2 (11-13) Led, disputed lead 5th, headed and chased leader 8th, pushed along before 4 out, not fluent 2 out, jumped left last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Richmond Lake (11-4) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Voix Du Reve (FR) 10-1 (12-0) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway on outer before 3 out, not fluent 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 8th of 10, 17 1/4l behind Nayati (11-13) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Return Ticket (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Led, ridden before 2 out where bad mistake, headed approaching last, kept on in sustained duel run-in, just failed near finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Dreams Of Home (11-9) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Gold Des Bois (FR) 40-1 (10-10) Prominent on inner, going okay when shaken up 3 out, ran on well to briefly take second on run-in, kept on but lost second final 110yds, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Malystic (12-0) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
