Camron De Chaillac has been raised 4lb for winning at Taunton and steps up in trip. Clondaw Bisto ran well for third at Exeter but has only won a bumper so far and KING UTHER is preferred. The latter was having only his second start in handicap when placed at Uttoxeter and should make a bold bid racing off the same mark today. Ballyheigue Bay remains 7lb higher than last season’s course and distance success but Sandhurst Lad won an amateurs’ race over 2m4f here off today’s mark in between a couple of modest efforts.
Justification 20-1 (11-5) Always behind, 9th of 13, 31 1/2l behind Padleyourowncanoe (10-1) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Ballyheigue Bay (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, fell 1st, at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
King Uther 4-1 (11-6) Made most, hit 8th and 3 out, soon ridden and edged left, headed when blundered 2 out, well held in clear 3rd last, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Malapie (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Clondaw Bisto (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway before 6th, led 3 out, ridden before last, headed run-in, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Present Times (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Camron De Chaillac (FR) 3-1 (11-8) Led, clear with one other after 3rd, headed after 5th, pressed leader, driven after 3 out, stayed on to challenge and every chance approaching next, ridden flat, led narrowly final 100 yards, just held on, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Arthur Burrell (11-1) by hd, 13 ran.
Sandhurst Lad (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, driven and lost place after 4 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 10th of 13, dist behind Pop Rockstar (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Miss Yeats (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, pushed along and struggling 4 out, never a factor, 10th of 14, dist behind One Of Us (10-11) at Ascot 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Alka Step (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Mid-division on inside, pushed along before 5th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 9, 33 1/2l behind Oskar Denarius (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.