led, mistake and narrowly headed 3 out, stayed challenging and every chance when fell 2 out
went right and mistake 2nd, always rear-division
towards rear, headway after 4 out, chased leaders in 5th before next, went modest 3rd last until last strides
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leader, led narrowly 3 out, hampered next, went right and stumbled last, soon headed, not recover
took keen hold, in touch, 3rd after 4 out, left close 2nd and slightly hampered 2 out, upsides last, led soon after and stayed on well
always in rear, struggling when hit 5th, tailed off
in touch, mistake 1st, weakened after 4 out, no chance when fell last
bumped 3rd, always behind, tailed off when went left 2 out
towards rear, headway 4 out, effort on inside when misake and slightly hampered 2 out, staye don flat, went 3rd last strides
in touch, went right 3rd, soon behind, tailed off
towards rear, made some late modest headway
King Fingal is the type to win handicaps over timber and will find this track more to his liking after a fair debut at Haydock where he travelled well for much of the way. Aikman did well between the flags and made an impressive debut under Rules when easily landing a bumper at Perth in May. The lack of a recent run shouldn't be a problem and he must be on the short-list. Chocolate Caramel was only just beaten over 2m4f here in November but ran poorly at Catterick subsequently and probably needs further but Kaolak has been having problems getting home after setting the pace. Fortuni should improve from his debut while Wyse Hill Teabags, the shock winner of an Ayr bumper in March, should make a jumper but this can go to hurdling newcomer THE GALLOPING SHOE, a winner over 1m2f at Newcastle in the summer and the type to do well at this game.
Aikman (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Made all, ridden over 2f out, kept on well to go clear over 1f out, won at Perth 2m NH flat (6) gf in May beating Priceless Art (11-9) by 8l, 15 ran.
Chocolate Caramel (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along 7th, some headway next, soon weakened, 8th of 16, well behind Lethal Glaze (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Darkan Road 33-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 3f out, no impression on leaders 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 15, 34l behind Master Murphy (10-9) at Newcastle 2m mdn NH flat (6) gs in Nov.
Dr Flynn (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, jumped badly left 2nd, weakening when jumped left 3 out, 6th of 12, 34l behind Pure Faith (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Nov.
Fortuni (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) In touch, ridden and weakened after 3 out, hit last, 5th of 16, 18l behind Darna (11-5) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) gs.
Kaolak (USA) 9-2 (11-5) Led, hit 4th, pressed before 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened approaching and hit last, 3rd of 16, 12l behind Darna (11-5) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) gs.
King Fingal (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd and keen, ridden and mistake 2 out, weakened after last, lost 4th flat, 5th of 10, 13l behind Al Qeddaaf (11-5) at Haydock 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Royal Willy (IRE) 7-2fav (9-9) In touch, ridden and headway on outer 3f out, went 3rd 2f out, no extra and lost 3rd close home, 4th of 11, 6l behind Strike Force (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct (flat).
Sobrando Lodge (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden into 5th 3f out, no extra over 2f out, 9th of 13, 19l behind Bayross (11-7) at Down Royal 2m N H flat sft in Nov.
Suburbia (USA) 125-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 12th of 16, 41l behind Darna (11-5) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) gs.
The Galloping Shoe 22-1 (8-4) Mid-division, headway 4f out, chased leaders 3f out, hard driven over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, pressed for 2nd close home, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Hot Prospect (9-1) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp 105 (2) sft in Aug (flat).
Wyse Hill Teabags 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Ayr 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar beating Yes Tom (11-11) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Barello Road 20-1 (11-1) With winner, ridden and weakened entering final furlong, 5th of 12, 13l behind Bygones In Brid (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m mdn nat hunt flat (5) gd in Nov.
Cool Baranca (GER) 11-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, never nearer, 8th of 12, 7l behind Osgood (9-9) at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct (flat).
