tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4th until before 9th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out
held up in last trio, hit 4th, not fluent 6th, in 6th place when fell 4 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 9th, led 4 out, headed 2 out, ridden and lost 2nd soon after, weakened into 3rd before the last
kept wide tracking leader, led 4th, headed 4 out, chased leader, in front again 2 out, ridden and headed before last, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
held up in 5th, lost place 5th, towards rear and struggling next, never dangerous after
led, not fluent 3rd (water), headed next, lost 2nd 5th, weakened quickly before 8th, tailed off next, pulled up before 4 out
held up in last pair, steady headway 9th, closer in 4th when stumbled badly 3 out, no chance after
never that fluent and waited with towards rear, smooth headway tracking leaders 9th, 3rd going well 4 out, 2nd soon after 2 out, led before last, ridden and quickened clear run-in
NonRunner
Early Du Lemo races off the same mark as when second in this race three years ago. He will be all the better for his third at Sandown and looks a threat to all. Gallic Geordie has won twice at Lingfield recently but this is a significant step up in grade. DOUKAROV got back to winning ways over course and distance two weeks ago and may be capable of defying a 6lb rise ahead of Heart Of A Lion, who was well beaten over 2m4f at Huntingdon after scoring over this trip at Ludlow.
Fix At All (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, mistake 3 out, not recover, 3rd of 7, 32l behind Saint Xavier (10-10) at Auteuil 2m 1f hvy in Nov.
Early Du Lemo (FR) 10-3 (11-9) Held up in last quartet, headway chasing leaders 7th, hit next (water), went 2nd 4 out until next, soon ridden in 3rd, stayed on same pace run-in, 3rd of 9, 6 1/2l behind One True King (12-1) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Doukarov (FR) 9-4 (11-2) Jumped well, tracked leader, slight peck 3rd (water), closer at 8th, led before 4 out, clear before the last, kept up to work run-in, stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Only Money (11-0) by 7 1/2l, 4 ran.
The Russian Doyen (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Raced handy, led main group, ridden 5 out, weakening 2 out, eased after last, finished tired, 8th of 12, dist behind When You're Ready (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Beaufort West (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, ridden and beaten before 2 out, 10th of 12, 22 3/4l behind Earth Lord (11-11) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Makka Pakka (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Prominent, ridden and weakened home turn, pulled up before last, at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Heart Of A Lion (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Held up, not fluent and jumped left, mistake 3rd and 10th, headway 12th, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 6, 31l behind Luckofthedraw (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Gallic Geordie 7-4fav (10-13) Held up in last, closed under 4 out, smooth headway into 2nd turning for home, led 3 out, extended advantage under 2 out, eased clear flat and just nudged out, very easily, won at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec beating Finnegan's Garden (11-2) by 7l, 7 ran.
Fairway Freddy (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, weakened and struggling from 8th, soon behind, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind One True King (12-1) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
