chased leaders on inside, outpaced and lost place 4 out, well beaten 3 out, pulled up after
jumped left, chased leaders, lost place before 2nd, behind 3rd, not fluent next, tailed off 6th
held up in rear, headway after 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd last, led flat, stayed on
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, well beaten before 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, headway 7th, left 4th 2 out, no impression, no extra last
held up towards rear, headway 3rd, went 2nd 5th, challenged 3 out, 3rd and beaten last
chased leader until 5th, 4th and beaten when fell 2 out
raced keenly, led, clear 3rd until after 4 out, pressed 3 out, edged left and headed flat, held towards finish
DOLOS seeks a fourth course victory and back-to-back wins in this contest having beaten Frero Banbou by four lengths last year. The latter is now 8lb better off but does struggle to get his head in front where it matters. Fast Buck came right back to form at Lingfield but has been raised 8lb and Kiltealy Briggs hasn’t run up to the form of his Market Rasen win in October in subsequent outings. Third Time Lucki is preferred to Eclair D'Ainay of the two Skelton runners and also makes more appeal than The Widdow Maker and Red Rookie.
Dolos (FR) 40-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 6th, driven along and no impression before 2 out, weakened into 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Editeur Du Gite (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Eclair D'Ainay (FR) 8-1 (11-13) Led narrowly, pushed along and headed 3 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 5 3/4l behind Malystic (11-10) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Third Time Lucki (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Held up in last, went 3rd before 5th, went 2nd 2 out (normal 3 out), soon shaken up, no impression last (normal 2 out), lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 19 1/4l behind Haddex Des Obeaux (11-3) at Warwick 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) 5-1 (11-13) Close up, led briefly 13th, soon headed, pushed along before next, faded 2 out, 5th of 6, 27 1/4l behind Elixir De Nutz (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Frero Banbou (FR) 11-4jfav (11-13) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, bit closer in 5th on inside at 5th, left in modest 4th 2 out, went 3rd towards finish, never on terms with principals, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Xcitations (11-6) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Red Rookie 9-2 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along into 4th 5 out, ridden and one pace from 3 out, 5th of 12, 18l behind Fugitif (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
The Widdow Maker 3-1 (11-10) Jumped left, led until slow 6th, led 9th, not fluent and headed 3 out, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Desque De L'Isle (10-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Fast Buck (FR) 20-1 (11-8) With leader, led 2nd, headed next, led 4th, clear after 4 out, jumped right and not fluent 3 out, stayed on, won at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Galop De Chasse (11-12) by 10l, 10 ran.
