held up mid-division, headway 3 out, led next, clear between last 2, pushed out, comfortably
held up behind, headway after 6th, weakened after 3 out
with leader, led after 1st, headed next, tracked leader, ridden and lost place before 2 out, weakened between last 2
tracked leaders, lost place after 4 out, weakened and pulled up after next
led to after 1st, in touch, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up after next
held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon chased leaders, one pace before next, never on terms
towards rear, headway under pressure 3 out, soon ridden, plugged on from next, never near leaders
mid-division, mistake 7th, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
tracked leaders, headway to lead before 2 out where blundered and headed, soon ridden, one pace in 3rd between last 2, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no impression with winner
with leaders, led 2nd, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon outpaced, modest 4th last
in touch, outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure before last, never on terms
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place when not fluent 7th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off before 2 out
towards rear, struggling after 4 out, weakened and pulled up after next
always towards rear, struggling 4 out, weakened and pulled up after next
raced wide, held up towards rear, smooth headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, one pace between last 2, soon ridden and no chance with winner, lost 2nd flat
NonRunner
Dragon De La Tour is a potential blot on the handicap as he ran his best race so far last time at Wetherby, when the first four finished in a heap, and has been dropped a pound since. Lady Buttons got back to winning ways at Newcastle last week but has picked up a penalty. Amantius bolted up at Wincanton last month but will have to defy a step up in grade off an 11lb higher mark if he is to complete his hat-trick. ALFRED ROLLER has been easy to back in all runs to date but caught the eye at Wetherby last month and has bags of scope now going handicapping. Straits Of Messina and Nightfly are others to consider.
Lady Buttons 9-4jfav (11-8) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, challenged 3 out, soon led, clear before last, very easily, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Beeno (11-8) by 7l, 11 ran.
Mahlers Star (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Towards rear, fell 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Steel City 5-1 (11-3) Not fluent 1st, tracked leaders, pushed along when mistake and stumbled badly 3 out, ridden and weakened on long run before next, soon behind, last of 8, 25l behind Crievehill (12-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Western Breeze (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Always behind, strugglng 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Spyder 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders and keen, tracked leader 2nd until 7th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Dalaki (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f (5) gd in Dec.
Amantius 7-2 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway when mistake 3 out, led going well before next, eased towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Dec beating Minella Gathering (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 18 ran.
Alfred Roller (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened from last, 6th of 14, 14 1/2l behind Craggaknock (11-5) at Wetherby 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Grey Life 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, well behind 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, dist behind Dream Bolt (11-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Malapie (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway to track leaders when brought down 3 out, at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in May.
The Wexfordian (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-6) Prominent, jumped left and lost place 5th, closed 8th, mistake 10th, struggling 12th, well beaten 4 out, 6th of 8, 36 1/4l behind Global Dream (12-0) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Riddlestown (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, weakened from 10th, soon reminders, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Midnight Jade (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jan.
Straits Of Messina (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Raced wide, chased leaders, led 3 out, ridden between last two, joined last, edging right when narrowly headed and squeezed up run-in, no extra in 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 11, 3 1/4l behind Amron Kali (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Baroque Style (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, never a factor, 11th of 14, 33 1/4l behind Clic Work (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Squeeze Me 12-1 (11-8) Pulled hard soon led, under pressure when headed approaching 2 out, weakened before last, last of 6, 30l behind What A Diva (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Dragon De La Tour (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 3 1/4l behind El Massivo (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Nightfly 7-1 (11-0) Held up, in touch in mid-division, closed 5th, outpaced 2 out, 4th and no impression before last, 4th of 13, 18l behind Verdana Blue (11-0) at Hereford 2m (4) gs in Jan.
