tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon led, clear last, stayed on
tracked leaders, jumped left and not fluent 6th, ridden to chase winner before 2 out, no impression, kept on
mid-division, fell 6th
towards rear, not fluent 4th, ridden 7th, well beaten after 4 out
tracked leaders, jumped left and not fluent 4th, weakened before 3 out
prominent, led 5th, headed before not fluent next, led again 7th, ridden before 4 out, headed after 3 out, weakening when fell 2 out
led after 1st, headed 5th, led again before 6th until 7th, close up 3 out, beaten next, weakened before last
mid-division, headway 3 out, 3rd 2 out, no impression on front pair, faded into 5th flat
led until after 1st, prominent, outpaced when not fluent 2 out, went 3rd and stayed on flat
held up in rear on outside, headway when pecked 3 out, disputing 3rd when jumped right and awkward last, stayed on same pace
mid-division, not fluent and reminders 5th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
always in rear, well beaten after 4 out
This is easily the best race on today’s card but we’re prepared to give another chance to BASTIEN (NAP), who got going too late behind Golan Fortune when favourite at Sandown. He’s 4lb better off today so should turn the tables. Russian Service is beginning to look well handicapped while improving Uttoxeter winner Who's My Jockey has to go on the short-list. Tempuran made all to beat two subsequent winners at Ludlow but has been raised 10lb. Brown Bear had been in great form before winning a competitive novices’ handicap at Ascot but he’s also shot up the weights. Milord is only a pound higher than for his last win at Taunton in March, however, so should be thereabouts.
Bastien (FR) 3-1jfav (11-9) Held up behind, headway into mid-division 5th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on to chase leaders after last, took 3rd near finish, not quite reach front pair, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Golan Fortune (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Who's My Jockey (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, challenged 6th, led when not fluent 3 out, drew clear flat, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov beating Huntsman Son (10-12) by 6l, 14 ran.
Golan Fortune (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Mid-division, mistake and dropped towards rear 3 out, headway on outside before next, soon ridden, upsides last, led narrowly when hung right flat, stayed on towards finish, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Sunnytahliateigan (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Jennys Day (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Led, headed 3rd, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened quickly 3 out, 7th of 8, 32 1/2l behind Sykes (11-11) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Russian Service 16-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened, last of 7, 10 3/4l behind Quarenta (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Tempuran 9-2fav (11-0) Made all, not fluent 6th, drawing clear when not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Little Chunk (11-10) by 7l, 12 ran.
Milord (GER) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, not fluent and reminders 4th, driven after 3 out, outpaced from next, no impression after, 5th of 7, 5 3/4l behind Play The Ace (11-10) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Brown Bear (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway under pressure after 3 out, chased leaders next, soon ridden, went 2nd between last 2, edged left flat, stayed on well to lead towards finish, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Molineaux (11-7) by nk, 15 ran.
Maguire's Glen (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, challenged after 4 out, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, no impression after, well held when not much room on inside flat, 7th of 19, 23l behind Melrose Boy (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Acertain Circus 15-2 (10-12) Jumped right at times, led, went right and hit 3 out, soon headed and dropped to 3rd, chased leading pair, no impression and edging left when dropped to 4th between last 2, weakened, 4th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Chalk It Down (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
Now Mcginty (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) With leader, ridden before last, kept same pace, 3rd of 16, 12 1/4l behind Chooseyourweapon (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (5) sft in Nov.
Verano (GER) 100-1 (11-5) Mid-division, weakened after 8th, tailed off, last of 12, dist behind Tempuran (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
