mid-division, blundered 3rd, tracked leaders next, reminder after 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden before next, led between last 2, driven out from last
led, headed after 3 out, weakened before next, lost modest 4th before last
mid-division, chased leaders briefly 3 out, well beaten before next, went modest 4th before last
held up behind, headway into 3rd after 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair from next
tracked leader, led after 3 out, ridden and headed between last 2, kept on same pace, no impression with winner from last
in touch on outside, lost place 4th, behind from next, tailed off 7th, pulled up after 3 out
always behind, struggling 5th, tailed of 7th, pulled up after 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place and ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
Nonrunner
Istimraar won a handicap over course and distance on Boxing Day and was just beaten under a penalty here earlier this month. He's definitely improved for the step in trip but did have an alternative engagement at Doncaster yesterday. Aqalim is likely to start a short price having won over 2m at Huntingdon before finishing second over 2m6f at Wincanton. But he had a really hard race on the latter occasion so we'll take a chance on Irish import STILO BLUE NATIVE. A winning pointer, he went down with all guns blazing at Limerick last month and won't be stopping at the finish here. Kilas Girl has also won between the flags but makes her debut under Rules today while Silver Shuffle has had a few chances.
Aqalim 5-1 (11-12) Jumped left and not that fluent, mid-division, niggled along after 5th, closed when blundered 7th, no chance with winner before 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Fletchers Flyer (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Boruma (IRE) 9-4fav (10-3) Keen close up, joined leaders 5th, led 7th, hit 12th and 2 out, 2 lengths clear when blundered and fell last, in a race won by Bearly Legal (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Nashville (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 4th of 6, well behind Five In A Row (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Silver Shuffle (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Led to 2nd, regained lead before 4th, headed 2 out, no extra and lost 2nd place before last, 3rd of 5, 11l behind Amethyst Rose (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Stilo Blue Native (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, slight mistake 6th, 5th and slight mistake 7th, slight mistake 5 out, 3rd 4 out, led before straight, pressed and pecked slightly 2 out, headed approaching last, got back on terms run-in, not match winner near finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Don Vincenzo (11-12) at Limerick 2m 5f mdn hdl hvy in Dec.
Transient Bay (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) In rear, niggled along and weakened from 6th, last of 8, well behind Grove Silver (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Coolanure (IRE) 100-1 (10-2) Led, headed 2nd, prominent, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind Kingswell Theatre (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Kilas Girl (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Ld/disp, ld frm 4out & good jump 3out, 4l adv aftr 2out & 2l adv at last, so flat, won at Kilworth 3m ire ptp in Nov beating Our Seaside Lady (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Derryogue (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Last pair, struggling in rear when pulled up after 8th, in a race won by Boardwalk Empire (10-7) at Lingfield 2m 7f nov hdl (4) hvy, 9 ran.
Istimraar (IRE) 2-1fav (10-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, headway 3 out, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, regained narrow lead after last, headed run-in, kept on and just held close home, 2nd of 8, shd behind Grove Silver (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
