in touch, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, weakened before 2 out
led to 3rd, tracked leaders, challenged and disputed lead 2 out, led between last 2, ran on well flat
mid-division, fell 4th
tracked leader, led briefly 3rd, in touch, led again approaching 4 out, ridden after next, headed 2 out, no impression in 3rd before last
in touch on outside, led after 3rd, headed approaching 4 out, ridden and lost place before next, soon weakened
held up towards rear, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch on inside, not fluent 4 out, headway after next, disputed lead 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and every chance until no extra flat
mid-division, headway and in touch on outside 3 out, every chance approaching next, weakened before last
prominent, effort 3 out to before next, soon weakened
prominent, challenged 4 out, outpaced when not much room approaching 2 out, soon beaten
in rear, hampered 4th, outpaced next, ridden after 3 out, never on terms
Nonrunner
Meridiem was well backed here last week but got no further than the second flight. This looks a stronger heat but few of these are regular winners and Fontwell third Farbreaga might struggle to win off his new mark. Alwaystheoptimist was put up 4lb after being beaten a neck at Southwell while Detour Ahead, though out of her depth last time, is flattered by earlier form figures. JAMEEL may not have stayed 2m4f on heavy ground at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Given plenty of time to recover, John Ferguson's lightly-raced novice should do better here on the faster going and gets the nod.
Farbreaga (IRE) 3-1fav (11-6) Chased leaders on inside, ridden before 2 out, plugged on flat, went 3rd nearing finish, 3rd of 10, 22l behind Occasionally Yours (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Jameel (USA) 10-3fav (11-8) Chased leaders, weakened quickly 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Saroque (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.
Alwaystheoptimist 20-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased winner when mistake 2 out, stayed on to close on cheekily ridden winner flat, no impression, 2nd of 16, nk behind Musnad (10-9) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Detour Ahead 50-1 (9-7) Prominent, not fluent 4th, ridden and lost place before 2 out, no chance when bad mistake last, pulled up flat, in a race won by Big Time Billy (9-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f mrs lst hdl (1) gs, 16 ran.
McCauley (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway approaching 4th, lost place 7th, well behind before 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Lucy's Legend (11-1) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Oct.
Herschel (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway under pressure approaching 4 out, chased leaders next, soon no impression, 5th of 10, 30l behind Reaction (10-9) at Stratford 2m sell hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Brassbound (USA) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, no impression when not much room after 2 out, weakened before last, tailed off, 8th of 12, 39l behind Urcalin (10-11) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Dont Take Me Alive 8-1 (11-4) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before next, in a race won by Kim Tian Road (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd, 10 ran.
Quiet Whisper (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) In touch tracking leaders, headway 3rd, chased leading pair 3 out, ridden between last two, driven and kept on same pace flat, lost 3rd final strides, 4th of 13, 4l behind Della Sun (10-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Meridiem 9-2fav (11-6) Held up mid-division on inner, blundered and unseated ridder 2nd, in a race won by Arkaim (11-10) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd, 14 ran.
Fluter Phil 6-1 (11-6) Jumped poorly in rear, tailed off when went badly left 2 out and last, 6th of 10, 39l behind Starlight Air (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
Prize Fighter (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 6th, went 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner last, demoted to 3rd and one pace, 3rd of 16, 11l behind Coverholder (11-10) at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
