in touch, headway on inside after 4 out, every chance from 2 out and throughout run in, just failed
reluctant to race and slowly away, behind, headway after 4 out, weakened before last
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on same pace closing stages
led, mistake 3rd, headed next, lost place before 4 out
chased leaders, effort 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway 4 out, chasing leaders when mistake next, kept on same pace approaching last
held up in rear, mistake 1st and 5 out, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened before last
tracked leader, every chance when mistake 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, led 4th, strongly challenged when hit 2 out, pressed throughout run in, hard driven, held on gamely
Question marks hang over most of these but VAL MOME (NAP) was having his first run in a handicap when weakening up the home straight at Kelso. He’s had wind surgery since and may well reverse that running with An Fear Ciuin on this sharper track. Outcrop kept on well to open his account at Sedgefield but an 8lb rise looks harsh. Richard Strauss has only placed once in seven attempts over timber but did win over 2m on the Flat last month but Icefall is going backwards and is held on the form book.
Val Mome (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, every chance approaching omitted 2 out, weakened closing stages, 7th of 13, 14 1/4l behind Iolani (11-8) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Max Liebermann (IRE) 7-1 (10-2) Slowly away, behind, headway to chase leaders after 2nd, mistake next, weakened 3 out, 6th of 7, 20 1/2l behind Final Choice (11-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
An Fear Ciuin (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, not fluent 4th, 3rd and ridden before 3 out, no extra flat, 5th of 9, 12 1/2l behind Chica Buena (10-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gf in Nov.
Icefall (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division, never dangerous, 8th of 13, 22 1/4l behind Iolani (11-8) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Bagan 66-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway on inside after 2 out, never on terms, 4th and one pace last, 4th of 7, 13 3/4l behind Didtheyleaveuoutto (11-0) at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Outcrop (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Held up behind, steady headway after 4 out, led narrowly when mistake 2 out, clear last, ridden out flat, kept on, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Nov beating Millie The Minx (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Ballynanty (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) In rear and in touch, effort and not fluent 3 out, weakened before 2 out, last of 5, 20l behind Return Ticket (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m (4) gf in Nov.
Astute Boy (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 25 1/4l behind Chica Buena (10-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gf in Nov.
Richard Strauss (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Led 1f, tracked leader, hung left over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, all out, won at Catterick 2m hcp (5) gs in Oct beating Alexis Carrington (8-8) by nk, 13 ran.
