never better than mid-division, behind from 3 out
prominent, effort to challenge and every chance when fell heavily 2 out
held up behind, pushed along before 2 out, kept on approaching last, never nearer
always prominent, led 4th, headed narrowly approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and every chance flat, outpaced towards finish
mid-division on outside, headway before 5th, effort and close up when left 3rd 2 out, not quicken between last 2, no impression after
mid-division, tracked leaders 3 out, disputed 3rd and close up when badly hampered and brought down next
held up towards rear, headway 5th, driven to chase leaders when badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out
tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 2 out, weakening when hampered next
prominent on outside, not fluent and lost place 5th, behind from 3 out
held up in touch, headway on outside before 3 out, led narrowly approaching next, ridden flat, ran on towards finish
led to 4th, chased leaders until ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up behind, pushed along after 3 out, no impression when slightly hampered next, kept on, never nearer
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, soon no impression, weakened before last
mid-division, driven to chase leaders when hampered 2 out, kept on, never able to challenge
Fidux completed a double when comfortably landing a Listed handicap at Ascot then found Grade 3 company much too hot on a return visit. Encore Champs' only defeat in four came in a Grade 2 novices' handicap on the latter track in December when the ground was too soft while Sternrubin has a strike-rate of 8-32 and can never be dismissed on this type of ground. ANEMOI completed a double over this sort of trip on good going before finding an extra half-mile on softer ground at Cheltenham beyond him though he wasn't beaten far despite blundering at the last. This looks his trip and ground and he can get back to winning ways. Garo De Juilley won a Grade 3 at Chepstow in October and ran better than his finishing position would suggest in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot while Nube Negra, an excellent third in last year's Fred Winter, caught the eye on his return at Cheltenham in November.
Fidux (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 10th of 21, 16 3/4l behind Mohaayed (11-10) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Misterton 20-1 (11-6) Led until 4th, chased leader until before 3 out, chased leaders, weakened between last 2, 9th of 24, 26 1/4l behind Kalashnikov (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Garo De Juilley (FR) 100-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, weakened between last 2, 6th of 11, 12 3/4l behind Paisley Park (11-7) at Ascot 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Sternrubin (GER) 7-2 (11-6) Prominent, mistake 4 out, 3rd and beaten from last, no extra final 50 yards, 3rd of 9, 6 1/2l behind Capeland (11-0) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Anemoi (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway on outside before 4th, went 2nd 6th, led 8th, headed 2 out, beaten when jumped left and mistake last, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 7, 13 1/4l behind Jarveys Plate (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Jan.
Nube Negra (SPA) 8-1 (10-9) Towards rear, headway 2 out (usual 3 out), driven to chase leaders turning in, kept on same pace, never on terms, 8th of 18, 13l behind Nietzsche (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Flying Tiger (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) In touch, headway chasing leaders 4 out, weakened last, 8th of 21, 11l behind Mohaayed (11-10) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Encore Champs (IRE) 6-4 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, not fluent next, driven and stayed on to lead narrowly last, ridden out flat, kept on towards finish, won at Kelso 2m (4) gd in Jan beating Lord Yeats (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Space Oddity (FR) 10-1 (10-9) Mid-division, hampered 5th, blundered and unseated rider next, at Newbury 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Capitaine (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Led in start, raced keenly and jumped right, led, steadied pace after 4 out, headed before last, weakened run-in, 4th of 6, 13l behind French Crusader (11-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Storm Home (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, some headway 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 26 1/4l behind Benny's Bridge (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Fiesole 20-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 11th of 21, 18 1/4l behind Mohaayed (11-10) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Smaoineamh Alainn (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Chased leaders in 4th, went 3rd after 7th, 2nd when mistake 3 out, not fluent 2 out, 3rd and well held last, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Annie Mc (11-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Court Royale (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, headway and closer in 4th after 3 out, pushed along before next, weakened between last 2, 5th of 7, 21 1/2l behind Monsieur Lecoq (10-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
