held up in touch disputing 5th, headway on outside tracking leaders 6th, ridden and struggling in 4th before 4 out, outpaced after next, weakened into 5th at the last
raced wide, led, clear 4th, went left 7th, not fluent 11th, reduced lead 12th, ridden before 2 out, driven and joined last, headed and no extra final 100 yards
tracked leader until 2nd, chased leaders until lost place 4th, last pair and struggling 7th, tailed off 13th, poor 6th when pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch disputing 5th, pushed along and starting to lose place in 4th when fell 14th
raced in 3rd place behind clear leader, closed into 2nd before 2 out, ridden approaching last, upsides last, ridden to lead final 100 yards, stayed on well
in rear, blundered 3rd, driven along in modest 6th after 13th, left remote 5th next, plugged on into never nearer 4th last
tracked leaders, tracked leader 2nd, closed 12th, pushed along and lost 2nd before 2 out, plugged on same pace in 3rd
Itoldyou was a staying-on second behind Kid Kalanisi, who runs in the previous race, at Fontwell on Boxing Day and filled the same position behind Water Wagtail over this course and distance in November. Talk Of The South only found one too good at Warwick last month but is 6lb higher. Royal Salute won at Fontwell in November but his third at Wincanton last time didn’t really prove his stamina over this sort of trip. HENLLAN HARRI (NAP) is now on a decent mark and usually takes on better opposition. Peter Bowen’s charge hasn’t been disgraced in a couple of runs since returning from a break and should be too good for these, though Taunton runner-up Sweettoothtommy is probably open to further improvement.
Howlongisafoot (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Always in rear, struggling after 9th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Double Shuffle (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Henllan Harri (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Chased leaders on outside led 11th, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, chased winner, ridden and no impression before last, battling for 3rd run-in, no chance with winner, 3rd of 16, 6l behind O Maonlai (11-6) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Leg Iron (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) Mid-division, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 17th, at Fontwell 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Talk Of The South (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Held up, towards rear, mistakes 5th and 11th, not fluent 12th, headway 4 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, stayed on, unable to challenge winner, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Brandon Hill (11-12) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Royal Salute 4-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway after 12th, 3rd and head high 3 out, no impression, one pace, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Carloswayback (11-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Sweettoothtommy (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) In rear, headway 15th, every chance 2 out, kept on and held by winner run-in, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Jack Snipe (10-1) at Taunton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Itoldyou (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, headway halfway, went 3rd from 5 out, led 4 out, mistake 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Kid Kalanisi (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 1f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
