kept wide, chased winner until approaching 4th where mistake and reminder, chased leaders, weakened home turn
held up and keen, steady headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders before next, plugged on run-in pressing for modest 3rd
chased leaders on inside, went 2nd approaching 4th until before 4 out, chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, rallied into modest 3rd post, no chance with leading duo
chased leaders, 3rd when hung badly left and ridden between last two, driven and went 2nd run-in, stayed on but always held
chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden after 2 out, 3 lengths down when not fluent last, weakened and lost 2nd run-in, lost modest 3rd post
raced keenly in rear, never involved, tailed off
made all, hit 5th, pushed along before 2 out, driven and stayed on gamely run-in, unchallenged
started slowly and lost ground, latched onto rear of field at 3rd, reminders and struggling after 6th, tailed off 8th, pulled up before 2 out
never travelled in rear, reminders and flashed tail before 6th, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
TOP MAN, successful over track and trip in November, can defy his big weight and get back to winning ways against modest opposition. He was only third off this mark at Ludlow subsequently but has won on soft ground over fences. Clear The Runway is fitted with a tongue-tie for his handicap debut and looks a danger, though Cochise is also unexposed and did win staying races on soft going on the Flat.
Top Man (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Led until after 1st, prominent, led 9th, headed 3 out, 3rd and held from last, 3rd of 11, 6 3/4l behind Art Of Diplomacy (11-11) at Ludlow 3m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Clear The Runway (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out until approaching next, no impression when weakened into 4th 2 out, 4th of 11, 11 3/4l behind Key To The Moon (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Coillte Eile (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Raced in mid-division, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, never a factor, 6th of 17, 14 1/4l behind Kazontherazz (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Lincoln Lyn 10-1 (11-0) Held up, pushed along off pace home turn, late headway for distant 5th, 5th of 17, 21 3/4l behind Electric Annie (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Cochise 16-1 (11-4) Towards rear, wide and headway to go close up 8th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 11, 28 1/2l behind Whistleinthedark (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Flaherty (IRE) 150-1 (11-1) Held up, hit and fell 3rd, at Plumpton 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Mickyh (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Towards rear, mid-division before 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and faded 2 ou, 8th of 13, 26 1/4l behind Malinas Island (10-8) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Towtheline 150-1 (10-12) Led into start, tracked leaders, ridden 7th, soon weakened, detached, 4th of 5, dist behind West Balboa (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f (4) gs in Nov.
Who Is That (IRE) 17-2 (10-0) Held up in rear, never a factor, tailed off, 5th of 8, 33 1/4l behind My Last Oscar (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
