went right and awkward start, held up in rear, brief effort over 2f out, no impression, hung right over 1f out
always towards rear, well beaten final 2f
raced keenly, led, headed over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, kept on
in rear, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced, no impression on leaders
chased leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, readily
chased leader until over 3f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, effort and hung left 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong
mid-division, closed 4f out, hung left from over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, unable to challenge winner
held up in mid-division, outpaced and no impression final 2f
A couple of these have more scope than the rest including AZTEC EMPIRE, who won a novice event at Kempton as he liked and makes his handicap debut along with Evania. The latter struggled in Listed company last time but will be more at home in this. Capital Theory drops down in class with a chance but First Officer is 10lb higher than when last winning and Myboymax won a lower grade contest over a longer trip last time. Gumball, First Impression and Colony Queen have been jumping with the latter preferred back in this code.
Gumball (FR) 7-4fav (11-10) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway from 7th, every chance 4 out, jumped right and beaten 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 9, 19 1/2l behind Desque De L'Isle (10-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Protected Guest 16-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, not clear run final bend, ridden over 1f out, no impression, 8th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Base Note (9-11) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
First Officer (IRE) 7-1 (8-8) Tracked leader, ridden to lead 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 21, 3l behind Metier (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
Colony Queen 66-1 (11-4) Towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, soon tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Credrojava (11-4) at Taunton 2m lst (1) gs in Dec.
Evania 40-1 (8-13) In touch, pushed along 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 8th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Missed The Cut (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
First Impression (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Swerved left start, prominent, ridden to press leader 3 out, stayed on 2 out, weakened approaching last, 9th of 10, 19 1/2l behind Nayati (11-13) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Aztec Empire (IRE) 1-2fav (9-4) Tracked leader after 1f, led going well over 2f out, clear when shaken up over 1f out, easily, won at Kempton 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Jan beating Deadlock (9-4) by 7l, 8 ran.
Capital Theory 3-1 (8-7) Tracked winner who went 10 lengths clear 8f out, still 10 lengths adrift over 1f out, closed inside final furlong, never any chance to challenge, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Pride Of America (9-9) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Jan.
Myboymax (FR) 66-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, switched right over 2f out, headway final bend, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Dec beating Thunder Ahead (9-4) by 1l, 7 ran.