led, ridden before 2 out, headed last, no extra
tracked leaders, reminders 6 out, ridden before 3 out, weakening when fell 2 out
in touch in 4th, fell 5 out
in rear, headway before 4 out, challenged 2 out, led last, kept on
held up towards rear, chased leaders 5 out, pushed along and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, blundered 7 out, ridden before 4 out, one pace
VOLVALIEN (NAP) was upped in class at Sandown last time and found a couple too good but he won in this grade at Sedgefield before that. He landed a bumper in soft ground when trained in Ireland and Brian Ellison’s charge gets the vote ahead of Pemba. The latter also faced a tougher task last time when second at Warwick to Top Notch, who has since won again, and she should go well in this. A winner over hurdles in France, Las Tunas has shown little over fences so far while both Turtle Watch and Karisma King make their chasing debuts, though the latter is a half-brother to a decent chaser.
Volvalien (FR) 11-4fav (10-13) Tracked leading pair, hit 13th, went 2nd after 4 out until ridden before last, 3rd and one pace run-in, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 12 1/4l behind Pilgrims Bay (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Pemba (FR) 7-1 (10-2) Tracked leader, led before 6th, jumped right and not fluent 8th, soon headed, led again after 4 out, headed before 2 out, no impression on winner, weakened last, 2nd of 4, 15l behind Top Notch (11-2) at Warwick 2m (3) sft in Nov.
Turtle Watch 20-1 (10-13) Always behind, 8th of 13, 28 1/4l behind Eyes Of A Tiger (10-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Eastview Boy 6-1 (11-4) Towards rear and unseated 5th, at Hexham 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Las Tunas (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 8 out to chase leaders, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 8, 36l behind Gold Opera (11-7) at Ayr 2m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Karisma King 11-4 (10-9) Prominent, led after 7th, headed 2 out, no extra last, lost 3rd post, 4th of 10, 15 1/2l behind Black Ivory (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.