Pyramid Place doesn’t look an easy ride but he stayed on too strongly for Torcello here last month, though the runner-up is now 6lb better off. Amarillo Sky has shown promise and makes his handicap debut while recent placed efforts suggest Guernesey and Song Of The Hunter are about to come to hand. KURAKA ran well over a longer trip here on his first start for Jeremy Scott and then led over the last when third at Newbury. He could have done without a further pound rise in the ratings but should run his race again. Endlessly has struggled in handicaps this season and John Betjeman has proved expensive to follow while Minnie Escape was a well-beaten fourth off her new mark at Wincanton and this looks just as tough.
Kuraka 16-1 (11-11) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, went 2nd next, led 2 narrowly out, ridden when mistake and headed last, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 15, 5 3/4l behind Gowel Road (12-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Endlessly (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, fell 2nd, at Hereford 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Amarillo Sky (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, nudged along and outpaced before 2 out, plugged on one pace from last, 4th of 6, 19l behind Metier (11-5) at Ascot 2m (2) sft in Nov.
Guernesey (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Held up, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, ridden into second 2 out, ran on without threatening easy winner, 2nd of 9, 11l behind Friend Or Foe (11-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Torcello (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 5th on inside, pushed along before 2 out, went modest 3rd before the last, took 2nd post, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Pyramid Place (10-6) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Song Of The Hunter (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Mid-division, off the pace 2nd, went 3rd after 2 out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 7, 15 3/4l behind The Mick Preston (11-12) at Hereford 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Olympic Honour (FR) 50-1 (11-10) Last pair, no chance when hit 3 out, never a factor, tailed off, 8th of 11, 26 1/2l behind Gustavian (12-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
John Betjeman 6-4 (11-4) Led, left clear at 4th, reduced lead and pushed along home turn, joined and and hit 2 out, ridden and headed when awkward last, kept on run-in until no extra inside final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Khan (11-4) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Zamani (GER) 10-1 (11-5) Chased leader until 4 out, chased leaders, 2nd again well before next until 3 out, chased leaders, weakening when went left 2 out, 6th of 15, 31l behind Gowel Road (12-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Starsky (IRE) 7-4fav (12-0) Hdwy 9; wknd app 2 out, 4th of 13, 14l behind Hotel Du Nord (12-0) at Wadebridge 3m gs in Dec.
Knight Destroyer (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 4 out, ridden and headed before next, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 26 1/2l behind Orkan (11-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Pasley (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, soon headed, no impression on winner before last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 10 3/4l behind Will Sting (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Hollywood Ken (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, led 5th until before 3 out, chased leader until weakened rapidly before next, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Gustavian (12-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Pyramid Place (IRE) 10-3 (10-6) Held up in last trio, hit 3rd, good headway widest of all before 3 out, went wide and led home turn, hung right before last, driven clear run-in, won at Taunton 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Torcello (11-12) by 3 3/4l, 8 ran.
Minnie Escape 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching 2 out, 4th of 16, 18 1/4l behind Chinwag (11-3) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
