pressed leader until ridden to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
tracked leading pair, headway over 1f out, effort to challenge winner inside final furlong, ran on
led narrowly, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
dwelt close up in 5th, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon edged left, always doing enough to hold rival
tracked leading pair, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Frosty Berry bids for a four-timer and a hat-trick of course wins having scored over 1m6f last time. Handiwork and Moshe are not out of this off their current marks and Villa Royale won a tougher handicap than this at York last year. Brandon Castle is another with a shout if staying the trip but there are no doubts about THE QUARTERJACK lasting home as he scored over track and trip last month and should be in the mix once again in a wide-open contest raised only 2lb.
Villa Royale 16-1 (9-2) Tracked leading pair, lost place over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 9th of 11, 14 1/4l behind Moonrise Landing (9-2) at Kempton 2m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Handiwork 5-1 (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, outpaced 6th, not fluent 4 out, well held 2 out, 6th of 9, 31 3/4l behind Virgilio (11-6) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Moshe (IRE) 7-1 (9-11) Soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 14 1/4l behind Duchess Of Marmite (8-7) at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Frosty Berry 9-2 (9-10) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, eased near finish, readily, won at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Dec beating Serenity Now (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
The Quarterjack 5-1 (8-13) Close up in rear, headway 3f out, led approaching final furlong, ridden out, won at Southwell 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Brassbound (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Brandon Castle 6-4fav (9-4) Tracked leader, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 9 1/2l behind Corton Lad (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Moojaned (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 10 1/2l behind Two Jabs (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Deep Resolve (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Led, headed 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 21 1/2l behind Alizee De Janeiro (10-12) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.