held up towards rear, headway 3 out, no impression, no extra before last
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, lost place before 2 out
held up rear of mid-division, headway 3 out, led before last, driven out
with leader until 3rd, tracked leader, led briefly 3 out, driven before next, kept on, went 3rd close home
mid-division, headway when not fluent 4 out, outpaced after next, well held 2 out
chased leaders, challenged after 3 out, led after next, headed before last, kept on, no impression on winner towards finish
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, kept on, not trouble leaders
made most until after 2 out, kept on flat, lost 3rd close home
prominent, ridden and lost place before 4 out, soon behind
held up in rear, well beaten after 3 out
SHIMBA HILLS was third to Ding Ding over course and distance a fortnight ago and should go close again racing off the same mark. He’s just preferred to recent Exeter third Magnus Romeo, who drops down a grade today. Both Sir Hubert and Up Four It have something to find with the selection on collateral form with Ding Ding while Romeo Americo last won in 2012 and was well beaten on his reappearance.
Magnus Romeo 20-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway 2 out, ridden before last, kept on, 3rd of 11, 3 3/4l behind Third Act (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Mount Shamsan 20-1 (11-0) Held up, some headway when mistake 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Rathealy (11-0) at Leicester 2m (5) gd in Dec.
Shimba Hills 6-1 (11-11) Held up in last pair, headway tracking leaders approaching 3 out, 3rd soon after, not clear run on inside on bend briefly before 2 out, 2nd 2 out, challenging when carried left and not much room last, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Ding Ding (11-7) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Quarryman 10-1 (11-8) Took keen hold, with leader, led 2nd until 5th, hit next, pushed along and weakened after 3 out, eased, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Culm Counsellor (10-0) at Taunton 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Romeo Americo (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, blundered 3rd, outpaced after 3 out, no impression from next, 5th of 11, 27 1/4l behind On The Road (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Sir Hubert 13-2 (11-2) With leaders, weakened after 3 out, 10th of 15, dist behind Whatthebutlersaw (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Dec.
Cosmic Diamond 33-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, struggling 4 out, 10th of 12, dist behind Chantara Rose (11-7) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Up Four It (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Raced keenly, led and set good pace, headed before 2 out, lost 2nd 2 out, chased leading pair until the last, weakened run-in, 4th of 9, 16 3/4l behind Ding Ding (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 2f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Nouailhas 33-1 (10-0) Prominent, blundered 2nd, lost action and pulled up before 3rd, at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Gray Wolf River 33-1 (10-0) Pulled hard, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Jaunty Thor (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
