held up in touch, closed 4th, not fluent 9th, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, weakened into 4th 2 out
led, jumped left 2nd and 3rd, driven and pressed after 2 out, not fluent last, soon narrowly headed, stayed on gamely, led again near finish
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, last 4th, outpaced before 3 out, went 3rd next, stayed on same pace, no impression
tracked leader, driven to challenge from 2 out, led narrowly after last, stayed on, headed near finish
non runner
non runner
Three of the sextet failed to complete last time whilst topweight Mr Mole is proving understandably hard to place - always saddled with plenty of weight in competitive handicaps but not quite good enough to dine at the top table. If he's on form, which is not always guaranteed, this could be his best chance for some time but BOLD HENRY and Arthur's Oak are preferred. The pair finished one-two here last month on heavy ground and the formbook says there will be little between them at the revised weights. However, Bold Henry appeared to score somewhat snugly that day with a little more in hand than the winning distance suggests and is taken to confirm placings.
Bold Henry 15-2 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway before 4 out, went 2nd approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, stayed on well, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Arthur's Oak (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Arthur's Oak 10-3fav (10-12) With leader, led after 2nd, prominent, ridden when mistake 2 out, headed before last, no impression on winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Bold Henry (10-7) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Chris Pea Green 11-4fav (11-9) Tracked leader until 3rd, stayed in touch, about 6 lengths 4th when stumbled and unseated rider just after 3 out, at Fontwell 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Ulck Du Lin (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, never in contention, well held when mistake 2 out, 9th of 13, 28 3/4l behind Pearls Legend (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Mr Mole (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Not fluent, held up towards rear, ridden after 8th, well beaten 3 out, 10th of 11, 31 1/2l behind Village Vic (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Grey Gold (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Towards rear, jumped left slightly left and often slow, last 2nd, behind 9th, pulled up before 3 out, at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
