chased leader until 3rd, chased leading pair, slow 5th, wide on home turn and outpaced after 3 out, soon ridden, beaten when stumbled last
prominent, chased leader 3rd, ridden and still every chance 2 out, kept on under pressure flat
held up in touch, smooth headway and quickened to challenge before 2 out, led soon after, not fluent last, in command when rider dropped rein flat
took keen hold, held up in close 4th, good headway on inside to lead before 2 out, headed soon after, kept on same pace last
led, hit 2nd, ridden and headed before 2 out, rallied under pressure flat, not pace of winner
took keen hold, held up last, hit 2nd, headway on inside before 2 out, driven and stayed on under pressure flat, took 2nd close home, not pace to reach winner
raced wide in touch, hit 4th, slow 6th, ridden and outpaced next, no chance after
Organisateur has run his best races around here but is conceding lumps of weight to his six rivals, though James Cowley's claim reduces his burden by 10lb. He needs to show he's fully recovered from a hard race over 3m at Cheltenham last month and preference is for IOLITH. An original entry for the totesport Trophy, Alan King's novice eventually by-passed that lucrative handicap but is clearly held in high regard by connections and was most impressive when sprinting clear of a big field over this C&D in December. Ciceron bounced back to form when beating Karasenir by a head over C&D last month and is another to consider, but Spear Thistle and Numide may lack the pace to get competitive over this trip while Pistolet Noir also needs further as a rule.
Organisateur (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, blundered 9th, struggling and no chance after, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Grands Crus (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Pistolet Noir (FR) 14-1 (11-1) Raced wide, took keen hold, held up in touch, hit 5th, hit 3 out, 7th and no chance when fell heavily 2 out, in a race won by Cross Kennon (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Ciceron (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, headway 3 out, driven to lead next, jumped right last, strongly challenged closing stages, kept on under pressure, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Jan beating Karasenir (10-11) by hd, 7 ran.
Iolith (GER) 10-3 (11-12) In touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, led approaching 2 out, in command before last, ridden clear flat, won at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Spirit Is Needed (11-5) by 7l, 14 ran.
Spear Thistle 8-1 (11-0) Narrow lead until headed before 3rd, with leader, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened and no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 7, 5l behind General Kutuzov (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 4f beg chase (5) sft.
Numide (FR) 33-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 20, 24l behind Kilcrea Kim (10-12) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd.
All For Free (IRE) 7-4fav (11-11) Tracked leader, left in lead 5th, hit 3 out, soon headed, weakened next, lost 3rd approaching last, 4th of 8, well behind Alcalde (11-4) at Fakenham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
