held up in rear, pushed along after 3 out, edged right approaching next, stayed on to take 3rd towards finish, never near front pair
held up behind leaders, challenged going well to lead 2 out, reminder soon after, lunged last, stayed on strongly flat
led 2nd until 5th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
led until mistake and headed 2nd, chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
always in rear, struggling after 3 out, tailed off
held up in 6th, ridden after 3 out, soon struggling
chased leading pair, led 5th, headed approaching 2 out, soon one pace, no impression on front pair when lost 3rd towards finish
held up in 7th, ridden and struggling after 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed 2 out, one pace before last
This race could throw up a few winners but ROYAL CHARM, According To Dick and Burton Port are probably the three to concentrate on today. A few of the others have shown glimmers of ability but this triumvirate have pretensions to be a little better than that. We don't know a great deal about Royal Charm whose sole run in France saw him finish second in a Listed race at Auteuil but he's joined a powerful yard and receives weight all round. According To Dick ran on well to land a Cheltenham bumper that the yard have targeted with some of their better horses in recent years. In light of that his debut effort over hurdles was a shade disappointing; he's better than that and still has a Cheltenham entry to his name. Burton Port was all the rage ahead of his debut for the yard and for his hurdling bow where he duly beat a decent sort to land the spoils. He failed to build on that at Fontwell where he raced a shade keenly and may not come into his own until next year. He's interesting nonetheless but we're going to side with the unknown quantity ROYAL CHARM.
Burton Port (IRE) 4-6fav (11-10) Led, not fluent 4th and next, ridden after 2 out, headed when mistake last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Tullamore Dew (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
According To Dick (IRE) 8-13fav (10-12) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway approaching 7th, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra, 2nd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Award Winner (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Marley Roca (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 10th of 16, 47l behind Cross Kennon (11-2) at Ludlow 2m mdn nhf (4) gs in Nov.
Quarl Ego (FR) 11-4 (11-4) In touch, weakened 2 out, 6th of 12, 25l behind Kilvergan Boy (11-4) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Search For Gold (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division until weakened over 3f out, 12th of 15, 35l behind Red Harbour (11-4) at Ascot 2m nhf Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Shinnecock Bay 14-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, chased leaders from 3 out, kept on well, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Princeful (11-5) at Fakenham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Wade Farm Billy (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Keen early, tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, hung right flat, 4th of 8, 7l behind The Good Guy (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Champagne Floozie 150-1 (10-11) Always behind, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Qozak (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Royal Charm (FR) (10-1) Behind until ran on from 2 out, went 2nd at last, nearest finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Romeo Conti (10-1) at Auteuil 2m 2f NH flat in Sept (Flat).
