held up in mid-division, well beaten from 3 out
raced keenly, pressed leader, not fluent 3rd, hit next, lost place 5th, mistake 3 out, stopped quickly and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, outpaced 4th, rallied 3 out, went 3rd towards finish, unable to trouble front pair
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, went 2nd before 5th, led after 3 out, driven out flat
led, not fluent 2nd, headed after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, mistake last
mid-division, well beaten from 3 out
in rear, ridden 4th, tailed off next, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway 5th, went 2nd before 2 out, hung left approaching last, held flat, stayed on towards finish
chased leaders, 3rd when not fluent 2 out, switched left before mistake last, weakened flat
towards rear, ridden 4th, behind next
soon outpaced, always behind
Jembug Drummer won a Bangor maiden by 12 lengths but ran a shocker at Wincanton which can't have been his form. Sastruga caught the eye of the stewards when runner-up at Uttoxeter where the heavy ground may have been the reason for the improved form. Sir Egbert has mainly been chasing but carried a big weight into second in a Plumpton handicap in November though he's another who likes plenty of give. Karakoram landed a Ludlow handicap on good going in October and has performed with credit subsequently but is 10lb higher. Ask Himself had looked a certain future winner before a poor run when odds-on at Kelso but he wasn't right that day and makes his handicap debut. Pop The Cork landed a juvenile hurdle at Uttoxeter but didn't improve on that at Sandown next time while Sheena West brings out BARD OF BRITTANY quickly after just failing to concede Chinwag 17lb at Huntingdon on Thursday. He can race from a 3lb lower mark here and looks the one to be on.
Sir Egbert 9-1 (11-8) Keen close up, mistake 8th and lost places, rallied 2 out, stayed on run in, 4th of 10, 8 1/2l behind Billingsley (11-5) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Petit Palais 16-1 (9-5) Soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakening when short of room approaching 2f out,, 13th of 15, 22 1/2l behind Pirate King (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Karakoram 7-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, switched right and went 3rd between last 2, went 2nd run-in, no chance with winner when rider eased up briefly 100 yards out, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Knight Destroyer (11-8) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Jembug Drummer (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Mid-division, lost place 5 out, mistake next, weakened 3 out, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Aweeminit (11-3) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Ask Himself (IRE) 4-9fav (11-0) Led, headed 4 out, led again 3 out, soon headed, lost 2nd place when weakening last, 5th of 11, 30 3/4l behind Elf De Re (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
King D'Argent (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Held up and behind, plugged on into modest 3rd run-in, never any chance, 3rd of 10, 22 3/4l behind Le Ligerien (11-12) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Sastruga (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, lost a few places when not fluent 3 out, given gentle reminder after 2 out and closed, mistake last, went 2nd and given another reminder, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Present From Dubai (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Sticky Situation (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Pop The Cork 11-2 (10-9) Held up, ridden 3f out, never near leaders, 7th of 12, 23 1/4l behind Guardia Top (10-3) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Bard Of Brittany 5-2jfav (12-2) In touch, went 3rd before 2 out, ridden before last to chase winner, switch right last 75 yards, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Chinwag (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (5) gs in Feb.
Briac (FR) 20-1 (11-12) In rear, behind 7th, tailed off, 11th of 12, dist behind Shimba Hills (10-1) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Ishyaboi (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division, lost place 6th, behind from 4 out, 9th of 15, dist behind Tactical Manoeuvre (10-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
