chased leaders, led 3 out, soon clear, stayed on strongly
always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off
held up off the pace towards rear, mistake 5th, steady headway approaching 3 out, plugging on for 2nd when hit last, lost that placing close home
always towards rear, struggling 4 out, tailed off and pulled up after 2 out
chased leader, chased winner from 3 out, ridden before next, lost modest 2nd at the last, weakened run-in
keen, off the pace in mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, kept on again run-in
held up off the pace towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders before 2 out, weakened last
led, hit 4th, headed and lost 2nd 3 out, chased leaders, weakened quickly
well in rear, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
raced wide in mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders before 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out
This looks a competitive finale with in-form novices at opposite ends of the handicap. Lightly Squeeze has come good with victories at Wincanton and Taunton but this is a much stiffer track and he has to give 24lb, less allowances, to SCRUTINISE. The latter was a 90-plus handicapper on the Flat and has been a revelation over timber since joining Zoe Davidson. He has won his last two here and is almost certainly a step ahead of the handicapper. Shaw's Cross forged clear at Lingfield and isn’t out of this but Sermando probably needs some help from the assessor and, like King Muro, lacks a recent run.
Lightly Squeeze Evensfav (12-5) Held up in mid-division going well, headway tracking leaders 4th, 2nd 4 out, led after next, clear before 2 out, in no danger when hit last, easily, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Twenty Twenty (11-13) by 7l, 16 ran.
Sermando (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, went 6th after 3 out, never on terms with leaders, 6th of 14, 10 1/2l behind Scarlet Dragon (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Karakoram 15-8 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before last, last of 5, 34 1/2l behind Ruacana (11-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Shaw's Cross (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway before 4 out, switched right and went 2nd after 2 out, led before last, clear flat, comfortably, won at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Bonne Question (11-1) by 7l, 9 ran.
Six Gun Serenade (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, soon rallied, chased leaders after next, every chance last, led soon after, stayed on strongly, won at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gs in Apr beating Dancing Doug (11-0) by 1l, 11 ran.
Hollywood Ken (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway on outside before 5th, weakened after 3 out, 14th of 16, dist behind Dorking Boy (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Perfect Myth 20-1 (11-10) Towards rear, hampered 3 out, not recover, soon lost touch and pulled up, at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Mount Windsor (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up in last pair, headway after 3 out, went 2nd before the last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 9, 19l behind Highway One O Two (11-6) at Plumpton 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Bol D'Air (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Took keen hold, led until after 1st, chased leader, evert chance 3 out, weakened before next, 10th of 14, dist behind Sadma (10-2) at Hereford 2m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Rafiot (USA) 10-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, 3rd next, weakened between last 2, 5th of 11, 29l behind Fraser Island (10-12) at Newbury 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Scrutinise 11-10fav (11-4) Raced wide, held up and keen, headway approaching 4 out, chasing leaders when hit 3 out, 2nd going well soon after, led before 2 out, pushed along and kept on well from last, won at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec beating Outrath (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
King Muro 5-1 (11-8) Mid-division, driven after 2 out, never threatened leaders, stayed on into modest 4th after last, 4th of 12, 16 1/2l behind Pretty Little Liar (10-10) at Stratford 2m hcp (4) gs in Jun.
