chased leaders, weakened final furlong
led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, weakening when slightly hampered inside final furlong
tracked leaders, went 2nd 2f out, led going well inside final furlong, ridden and idling when headed near finish
chased leaders, pushed along over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong
held up, headway near side chasing leaders over 1f out, edged left under pressure inside final furlong, no extra well inside final furlong
awkwardly away, held up in rear, headway chasing leaders over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, ridden and one pace when lost 2nd well inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up, good headway near side when not clearest of runs and switched right over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, led towards finish
chased leader until pushed along 2f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened final furlong
Cliff took 31 attempts to open his account and was well ahead of Unnoticed when scoring over 7f at Wolverhampton. The latter has subsequently gone close at Southwell, also over 7f, but the less exposed ANDYS GIRL makes more appeal. Brian Ellison’s filly needs to step up on her recent second in maiden company here but has the scope to do so in a weak handicap. Thorntoun Lady has slipped down the weights and was placed over 7f here last time while Letbygonesbeicons and Ad Vitam are both back on winning marks and Best Trip can race off a much lower handicap rating back on the all-weather.
Top of The Bank 66-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear on inside, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 10 1/4l behind Capolavoro (9-1) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Best Trip (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed entering final furlong, soon weakened, 12th of 15, 8 1/4l behind Shouranour (9-4) at Catterick 7f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Cliff (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) In touch, ridden inside final furlong, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec beating Indigo Princess (9-5) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Unnoticed 5-1 (9-4) Always prominent, led over 2f out, soon strongly challenged, headed inside final furlong, rallied close home, just failed, 2nd of 10, shd behind Custard The Dragon (9-7) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Andys Girl (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Close up, headway 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Hackney Road (9-0) at Newcastle 6f mdn fll stks (5) pol in Nov.
Thorntoun Lady (USA) 11-1 (9-4) Held up, headway over 1f out, ridden and kept on one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Gypsy Major (9-3) at Newcastle 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Letbygonesbeicons 8-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, never on terms, 5th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Tricky Dicky (9-6) at Redcar 6f hcp (6) sft in Oct.
Ad Vitam (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Behind and outpaced, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 2l behind Swanton Blue (9-4) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Minty Jones 20-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 7 1/2l behind Lady Bacchus (8-8) at Newcastle 5f hcp (6) pol in Nov.