mid-division, ridden 7th, soon weakened
always towards rear, blundered 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 7th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened last
led, headed 5th, lost place 7th, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, to chase clear front trio flat
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, wandered and weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up flat, dismounted
mid-division, ridden and weakned 8th
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place approaching 8th, reminders and stayed on from 3 out, switched right flat, no extra
held up in touch, ridden and headway 3 out, stayed on gamely to lead close home
always towards rear, lost touch 7th
tracked leader, led 5th, ridden 2 out, all out when headed close home
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, weakened 7th, soon behind and tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
This could concern recent winners Sandmartin Penny's Crown and In The Hat and we will plump for the first named. The Philip Hobbs trained six-year-old was most impressive when easily beating Gunship at Exeter earlier this month. The application of blinkers appeared to bring out plenty of improvement and if they work again today he will be hard to beat. Penny's Crown beat Buz Kiri easily enough in a seller last week and still looks on a decent mark despite the penalty. In The Hat improved for the step up in trip last time and there could still be more to come. Azzemour and Welsh Dane are consistent types and are also worthy of a mention, but we return to Sandmartin as our idea of the winner.
Noble Calling (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden 9th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Diletia (10-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Open Range (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Started slowly, took keen hold in rear, headway to lead 1st, hit 2nd, jumped right from 4th, headed approaching 8th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Arm And A Leg (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Nov, 10.
Azzemour (FR) 7-2 (10-4) Held up in rear, headway to join leaders 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 4th of 10, 9l behind Charlies Double (10-6) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gf in Jul.
Emphatic (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) Led, headed 6th, chased leader 8th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 11, 24l behind In The Hat (10-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Nov.
Koln Stars (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Led to 2nd, weakened after 4th, last of 11, 44l behind Gustavo (10-7) at Bangor 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (F) hvy in Dec.
Sandmartin (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, led approaching 7th, in command from 3 out, very easily, won at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs beating Gunship (10-2) by 10l, 14 ran.
Penny's Crown 6-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 9th, led going well approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Taunton 3m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gd in Dec beating Buz Kiri (11-7) by 4l, 13 ran.
Amazing Valour (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) In touch, chased leader 5th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 6th of 16, 17l behind Aston Lad (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) sft in Dec.
Squantum (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Croc An Oir (10-10) at Worcester 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gf in Jun, 18 ran.
Case Equal (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, weakened next and pulled up 4 out in race won by Sandmartin (10-11) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs, 14 ran.
Welsh Dane 8-1 (10-9) Led, ridden and hit 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Qualitair Pleasure (11-7) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd in Nov.
A Monk Swimming (IRE) 100-1 (9-11) Held up, blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Gustavo (9-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Dec, 18 ran.
Old Splendour (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) 2nd to halfway, 2nd again approaching 4 out, no extra and weakened from next, 6th of 15, 36l behind The Duck (10-10) at Downpatrick 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 sft in Dec.
In The Hat (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up, ridden approaching 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, chased leader 2 out, stayed on to lead flat, won at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Nov beating Prayerful (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
