chased leaders, led approaching 6th, ridden and headed before 2 out, no impression on winner, weakened to 3rd approaching last
in touch, weakened and pulled up before 7th
in touch, went 2nd after 3 out until before next, stayed on to 2nd approaching last, no chance with easy winner
mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 7th, led before 2 out, clear before last, easily
behind, headway to mid-division after 5th, blundered next, soon lost place, behind when mistake 3 out, pulled up soon after
chased leader, not fluent 4th, ridden and lost 2nd before 6th, weakened next, tailed off
raced wide, chased leaders, every chance 3 out, weakened before next
behind, mistake 4th, reminder next, tailed off and pulled up before 6th
in touch, ridden and lost place after 5th, soon behind
in touch, weakened before 6th, soon behind
in touch, pushed along before 6th, soon beaten
behind until fell 3rd
behind, moderate late headway
led, pushed along and headed before 6th, weakening when blundered 3 out, soon eased, pulled up before next
behind, moderate late headway
always behind, tailed off
Should a pair of blinkers bring about some improvement in either Duaiseoir or Swift Chap, one or the other could figure in this. Argaum and Arctic Wings don't appear the force of old, however, and Tony Carroll's other runners, Taroum and Easydoesit, also have a bit to prove at present. The handicapper has got a grip on Award Winner again while Jojabean and Johnny Red are still maidens, though lightly-raced. So is GUESS AGAIN and David Pipe's seven-year-old has the potential to be a bit better than this grade. Despite having his first run since getting off the mark at Hexham in March, the top weight gets the nod.
Guess Again (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led before last, kept on well, driven out, won at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Overpriced (9-11) by 4l, 10 ran.
Jojabean (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 5th, led and went left 2 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Kings Lad (10-12) at Wincanton 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gs in Nov.
Johnny Red (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leading trio, went 3rd and hit 2 out, soon driven and one pace, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Dunlough Bay (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Nov.
Duaiseoir (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, ridden before 4 out, tailed off before 2 out, 9th of 11, well behind Loose Chips (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Denton (NZ) 25-1 (9-7) Mistake 1st, pressed leader, hit 5th, led briefly 3 out, soon lost place, weakened before next, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Ubi Ace (11-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs in Dec '11.
Mister Wiseman 13-2 (11-6) Led, not fluent 8th, headed before 3 out, no chance when fell heavily next, in a race won by Cool Operator (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Taroum (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway bypassing normal 2 out, mistake last, never on terms, 6th of 10, 10l behind Open Day (11-2) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Swift Chap 11-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 7th, close up when not fluent next, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Farmer Matt (10-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Legion D'honneur (UAE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up, pushed along 8th, some late headway, never on terms, 9th of 11, 12l behind Fox Appeal (11-2) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec '11.
Award Winner 6-1 (11-2) Prominent, chased winner 8th until 2 out, weakened soon after, poor 4th when pulled up before last, in a race won by Who Owns Me (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft, 7 ran.
Posh Emily 8-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, struggling 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 10, 7l behind J'Adhere (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec '11.
Easydoesit (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Towards rear, effort when hit 5th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 7th of 9, 45l behind General Ting (11-5) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gs in Nov.
Arctic Watch 7-1 (10-10) Towards rear, fell 1st, in a race won by L'Eldorado (11-12) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft, 9 ran.
Della Sun (FR) 33-1 (11-1) Led, ridden before 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened after last, 3rd of 15, 1 3/4l behind Dormouse (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 14, 38l behind Coffee (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Sep.
Argaum (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Always last, not fluent 3rd, well beaten 3 out, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Star In Flight (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.