tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, headed 2 out, chased winner after, not quicken after last
in touch, weakened before 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, left in lead 4th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened quickly
held up, headway to track leaders from 3rd, led 2 out, in command last, driven out
pulled hard, led after 1st until fell 4th
chased leaders until weakened between last 2
towards rear, brief effort approaching 5th, soon beaten
towards rear, hit 3rd, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, hampered 4th, weakened under pressure after next
held up, headway to track leaders 5th, one pace under pressure between last 2
hampered 1st, always behind
in touch, ridden after 5th, weakening, well behind when fell last
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened and hit last
soon tailed off, pulled up before last
held up, headway from 5th, chased leading pair 2 out, stayed on same pace
behind, no chance when hampered 4th
led to after 1st, stayed prominent, hampered 4th, weakened next
behind, slightly hampered 4th, headway next, weakened approaching 2 out
Prize Fighter has the class to beat this large field, his closest rivals likely to be Royals Darling, Detroit City and Ellerslie Tom to name but three. There is a good mixture here of traditionally-bred animals and ex-Flat horses, with Prize Fighter falling into the latter category. Rated up to a mark of 90 on the level when trained by Peter Chappel-Hyam, the son of Desert Sun made a highly promising debut here in November when fourth to Turko, and duly progressed to open his account at Fakenham last month. He has to shoulder a penalty now, but should prove up to the task. He was a miler on the Flat, so if successful here, he may not be aimed at the Triumph, with flatter Aintree a more feasible target. His stablemate Akram won his final two races in Ireland for John Oxx on fast ground and has been absent since July, so is best watched, and a bigger threat is likely to be Royals Darling who handled softish ground on the continent. Nicky Henderson has a terrific record with his runners here so he has to be respected. Peter Bowen has a high opinion of Ellerslie Tom and is adamant that we have yet to see the best of him. If he gets his jumping together, the Welsh raider is another that can get involved. Detroit City won four times on the Flat for Jeremy Noseda and finished in mid-division on his timber debut for Philp Hobbs at Warwick. His stamina has to be taken on trust again but he is worth a mention along with Doncaster winner Shiny Thing, although she was rated 30lb inferior to the selection on the Flat. Richard Hannon does not have many at this game but introduces both Oakley Absolute and Love Affair, while Dina Smith now has charge of Spear Thistle, an 84-rated stayer on the level. Plenty to look at and ponder over then, but Prize Fighter has the form in the book and gets the vote.
Prize Fighter (IRE) 8-11fav (10-12) Close up, mistake 4th, chased leader 3 out, led next, soon clear, won at Fakenham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (E) gd in Dec beating Sea Map (10-12) by 8l, 14 ran.
Royals Darling (GER) (9-13) Chased leader, effort 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 5, 2l behind Chiaro (10-6) at Auteuil 2m 2f Listed hdl hvy in Sept.
Akram (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, improved into 2nd 2f out, led approaching straight, soon ridden clear, comfortably, won at Galway 1m hcp 60-92 gf in Jul beating Charismatic Cat (9-11) by 3l, 6 ran (Flat).
Ball Boy 22-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, keen hold, jumped right 1st, hit 5th and fell 4 out in race won by Take A Mile (10-7) at Fakenham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (E) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
Brave Hiawatha (FR) 9-1 (10-12) Mid-division to rear, hit 4th, mistaken weakened next, soon tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind Restless D'artaix (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Dec.
Detroit City (USA) 3-1fav (11-0) In touch and mistake 1st, ridden approaching 5th, weakened next, 8th of 16, 43l behind Prime Contender (11-0) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (B) sft in Dec.
Ellerslie Tom 2-1fav (10-12) Led 2nd to after 5th, no chance when fell 3 out in race won by Josear (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Estate 11-1 (10-12) Raced keenly in mid-division, not fluent 3rd, ridden 3 out, never on terms, 7th of 17, 23l behind Gidam Gidam (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gf in Dec.
Form And Beauty (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Tailed off soon after start, 13th of 15, well behind Blue Shark (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Globalized (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up and keen, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 11, 18l behind Patman Du Charmil (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) sft in Dec.
Ihuru 100-1 (10-12) Always in rear division, 8th of 16, well behind Restless D'artaix (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Dec.
Innpursuit 18-1 (10-12) Always behind, 11th of 14, well behind Caribou (10-12) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Jack Rolfe 5-2fav (9-0) Held up, headway under strong pressure over 2f out, driven to challenge over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn aut stk (6) pol beating Webbswood Lad (9-4) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran (Flat).
Kofi 28-1 (8-12) Always behind, last of 17, 27l behind Courageously (8-10) at Warwick 1m 3yo hcp (6) gd in May (Flat).
Maya's Prince Easycall gelding, half-brother to winning miler Delcienne.
Oakley Absolute 9-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 14, 4l behind Willhego (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec (Flat).
Shiny Thing (USA) 7-1 (10-5) Close up , challenged 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to lead near finish, won at Doncaster 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gd in Dec beating Tritonville Lodge (11-4) by a shd, 14 ran.
Son of Bathwick (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Held up in mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon lost place, 12th of 14, 9l behind Dane's Rock (8-1) at Bath 1m sll hcp (6) frm in Sept (Flat).
Spear Thistle 15-8 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace and no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Rooftop Protest (9-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Nov (Flat).
Victorias Groom (GER) 7-1 (10-12) In touch, slightly hampered 1st, every chance and upsides when went left 2 out, held before last, one pace run-in, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Heathcote (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Danzare 11-1 (8-13) Tracked leader, ridden 3f out and weakened quickly over 2f out, 13th of 14, 18l behind Red Birr (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec (Flat).
Desert Moonbeam (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Mostly led chasing group, one pace before 3 out, 4th of 14, 49l behind Josear (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) sft in Dec.
Kryena 2-1fav (8-9) Keen, mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, switched right inside final furlong, one pace, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Almanshood (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn stk (5) pol in Dec (Flat).
Love Affair (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) Chased leaders until lost place over 3f out, 12th of 13, 21l behind Connotation (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f fll hcp (5) pol in Dec (Flat).
