never that fluent and tendency to jump slightly right, led and disputed, went badly right bumped 11th, lost 2nd next, 2nd again after 12th until 14th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out, mistake last
held up, mistake and unseated rider 1st
led and disputed, outright leader after 13th, went clear after 4 out, hit 3 out and stumbled, blundered next, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
chased leaders out wide, weakened 7th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
held up, headway before 4 out, chased leaders before next, went 2nd 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
chased leaders, went 2nd briefly 12th, chased leaders, went 2nd 14th, pushed along and no chance with winner after 4 out, lost 2nd next, plugged on in 3rd
raced wide and held up early, headway chasing leaders 5th, ridden and lost place after 9th, fell 15th
CLASSIC ESCAPE is getting closer over fences and just missed out at Sedgefield last week when caught in the final strides. He can go one better racing off the same mark. Hugo's Reflection returned to action with a good effort at Fontwell and can figure again while Mercian Knight jumped repeatedly right at Lingfield on his reappearance and is fitted with headgear. It was soft going when Manofthemoment won at Warwick last season and Optimistic Bias finished second at the same track when last in action.
Mercian Knight (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Chased leaders on inside, went right 11th, pushed along after 4 out, weakened before next, 5th of 8, 17 1/4l behind Gleno (11-2) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Optimistic Bias (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up, not fluent 1st, left 4th at the 6th, went 2nd 18th, never able to get to winner, mistake last, well held flat, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Goodnight Charlie (10-10) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Classic Escape (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, pushed along briefly 13th, modest headway under pressure 4 out, chased leader 2 out, led last, kept on flat but headed close home, 2nd of 10, shd behind Carrick Roads (11-12) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Book of Gold (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Towards rear, slow 3rd and 4th, behind 8th, pulled up after 10th, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Manofthemoment (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Prominent, lost place 4th, behind when reminder after 9th, lost touch from 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Hugo's Reflection (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Led, not fluent 5th, mistake 12th, hit last and headed, kept on well after last, back up for 3rd close home, 3rd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Mine's A Pint (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Gibbes Bay (FR) 14-1 (12-0) (tt) hdwy 5; wknd 15; pu nxt, at Sheriff Hutton 3m sft in Jan.
