held up off the pace in mid-division, headway chasing leading pair before 2 out, 3rd and held when jumped right and slightly hampered last, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in
never travelled, always behind, tailed off 3 out
raced wide until after 2nd, led and raced freely, mistake and headed 4th, chased leader, stayed on inside in straight, weakened quickly approaching 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, held when went left and hit last, stayed on same pace run-in
chased leader, led 4th, hit 3 out, wide straight, pushed along and headed on long run before 2 out, chased leaders and outpaced, plugging on in 4th when went right last, weakened run-in
always towards rear, never a factor
towards rear, some headway into mid-division before 3rd, ridden and beaten before 2 out
took keen hold, held up in mid-division, pushed along on long run before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on into modest 4th run-in
never going well, always in rear, tailed off
chased clear leading pair, closed on outside to lead before 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly, driven out
mistake 1st, off the pace in mid-division, jumped slowly 3rd, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, headway under pressure and hung right before last, weakened run-in
This is not a race filled with prolific winners but BALGEMMOIS and Georgieshore were both successful on their penultimate starts. The latter is a pound out of the handicap but James Bowen rides so he shouldn’t be underestimated. The former gets the nod, however, as he’s less exposed and will handle conditions better than most. Chieftain’s Choice is not in the same form as when winning this off a 5lb lower mark last year and looks held by the selection on Leicester running. Gassin Golf is eased in grade but has a poor strike-rate while Balibour and Bryony Frost’s mount Paddy’s Poem are still maidens. Vicenzo Mio is not the force of old so Subcontinent may be the pick of the remainder.
Gassin Golf 4-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway on inside approaching 7th, ridden and one pace after 2 out, left disputing 3rd before last, 4th of 10, 16 1/2l behind Cougar Kid (10-3) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Chieftain's Choice (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up, headway chasing leaders 4th, weakened next, last of 12, dist behind Mr Antolini (11-7) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Paddy's Poem 11-4 (11-4) Led, joined and hit 2 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Distingo (11-4) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Balibour (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led 2nd, hit 3 out, headed before 2 out, hit last, no impression on winner and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Just So Cool (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Balgemmois (FR) 11-2fav (11-4) Chased leaders on outside and raced keenly, led after 2nd until ran wide on bend and headed soon after, chased leader, every chance 3 out, lost 2nd before next, plugged on in 4th run-in, 4th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Mr Antolini (11-7) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Bazooka (IRE) 40-1 (9-2) Always behind, 9th of 11, 7 1/2l behind Thaqaffa (9-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Subcontinent (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Prominent, hampered 3rd, every chance 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra before last, 6th of 16, 11l behind Diablo De Rouhet (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Jan.
Vicenzo Mio (FR) 10-3 (11-9) Led, joined 2nd, headed next, chased leader until ridden on long run before 2 out, weakened soon after, last of 5, 14 1/4l behind Northandsouth (10-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Mr Fickle (IRE) 66-1 (10-3) Towards rear struggling halfway, last of 14, dist behind Golan Fortune (10-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Briac (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Chased leader, hit 3 out, soon lost 2nd, chased leaders, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Argyle (12-2) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Georgieshore (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-1) Led, headed after 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Ardmayle (12-0) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
First Quest (USA) 25-1 (10-7) Slightly hampered 1st, soon chasing leaders, jumped slowly 6th, weakened before next, 8th of 10, dist behind Distingo (11-4) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
