chased leaders, weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway 5th, challenged 9th until after 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd and 6th, headway from 9th, 3rd after 3 out, one pace and no chance with winner before last
pressed leader, led briefly 3rd, lost place after 8th, well behind 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, led going well 2 out, clear before last, very easily
in touch, lost place 5th, closed when brought down 9th
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 8th, disputing lead when fell 9th
towards rear on outside, not fluent 5th, slightly hampered 9th, closed next, ridden and weakening when mistake 2 out, pulled up before last
rear of mid-division, in touch when brought down 9th
mistakes in rear, struggling 8th, hampered next, soon tailed off, pulled up before last
in touch, struggling 4 out, pulled up after next
made most until 2 out, no impression on winner before last, stayed on same pace
Prophets Prayer is a consistent sort but lacks an extra gear. Moidore stays well but isn’t getting any younger and Jimmi Chew couldn’t cope off his new mark in November having won earlier at Huntingdon and Uttoxeter. Layerthorpe rattled up a hat-trick at the end of last year, however, and The Distant Lady was back on song at Huntingdon in January. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT is worth another try over this trip after finding only one too good over 2m4f here at the start of the month – he’ll strip fitter today.
Scooby (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Led until after 1st, chased winner until after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Sebastian Beach (11-11) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Can You Believe It (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 2nd, headed after 4th, led 5th, headed after 3 out, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Tel'art (11-1) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Prophets Prayer (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and held when mistake last, 2nd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Etat Major Aulmes (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Moidore 7-4 (10-7) Led until fell 8th, at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
The Distant Lady (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, kept on flat, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Imperial Elysian (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Layerthorpe (IRE) 13-8fav (11-4) Led until before 4th, chased leader, led again soon after 3 out, joined 2 out, strongly pressed close home, held on gamely, all out, won at Taunton 3m hcp (5) sft in Dec beating We'llcwhathappens (11-2) by shd, 10 ran.
Jimmi Chew (IRE) 6-4fav (11-3) Disputed lead until led after 4 out, headed before 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 9, 9 1/2l behind Out The Glen (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Farmer Boy (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, not that fluent, headway before 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 8, dist behind Chill In The Wood (11-4) at Stratford 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Jul.
The Black Squirrel (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Towards rear, outpaced after 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, no impression, 4th of 11, 14 1/4l behind Oliver's Island (10-0) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) hvy in Mar.
Inexorable 40-1 (11-0) Led until 1st, led after next, wandered and headed 3rd, lost place 4 out, well beaten next, 8th of 9, dist behind Balagan (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gd in Jul.
Ardglass Star (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division on outside, headway into 2nd 3 out, led before next, not fluent last, ridden and headed narrowly flat, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Mamoo (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Goldslinger (FR) 16-1 (10-10) Led, wandered into 5th, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened and poor 5th when fell last, at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Feb.