in touch in rear, effort on outside 3f out, ridden over 2f out , soon weakened
raced keenly, tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced, no chance with front pair when lost 3rd inside final furlong
chased leaders to over 3f out, behind final 2f
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon one pace, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with front pair
led, ridden when hard pressed over 2f out, headed narrowly over 1f out, kept on, just held
tracked leader, challenged over 2f out, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, held on well final furlong
CLIPSHAM TIGER has improved for the application of a hood and included a course and distance double in a recent hat-trick. He still looks ahead of the handicapper judged on the ease of his latest success here and Mick Appleby’s charge can go in again. Motahassen won a lower grade contest by a wide margin here last week but carries a 5lb penalty while Jazz Hands was also successful over track and trip in October but never figured off today’s higher mark at Newcastle last time. Without a win in 15 starts in Ireland, Natty Dresser has switched yards and hasn’t raced for over a year and the remainder are even harder to recommend.
Inner Circle (IRE) 50-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 8th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Mendoza (9-5) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Clipsham Tiger (IRE) 10-11fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, chased leader 3f out, led over 1f out, pushed out, won at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Emojie (8-8) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Natty Dresser (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Rear of mid-division, checked early, closer in 8th 2f out, short of room briefly over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well final furlong, went 2nd near line, never nearer, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Russian Campaign (8-8) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Motahassen (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, pushed clear, won at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov beating The Retriever (8-12) by 7l, 14 ran.
Tagur (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Held up, pushed along and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Silverturnstogold (9-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Jazz Hands (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 7th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Proceeding (8-7) at Newcastle 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Madeeh 50-1 (8-5) In touch, ridden and no impression final 2f, 7th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Big Daddy Kane (8-8) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Nov.