held up in rear, well beaten 3 out, never dangerous
towards rear, headway after 3rd, challenged 5th, not fluent 3 out, 4th and no extra from 2 out, mistake last
towards rear, headway 3 out, soon weakened, well beaten 6th 2 out
led, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on, no impression on winner towards finish
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, mistake next, outpaced after 4th, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, well beaten 5th, tailed off when mistake last
mid-division, struggling 4 out, well behind next
prominent, raced keenly, not fluent 4 out, led 2 out, ran on well
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, lost place 4th, weakened quickly, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, lost place before 5th, never dangerous after
mid-division, headway before 4th, weakened after 3 out
held up in touch, 4th and ridden after 3 out, went 3rd before next, kept on flat
Metatrons Cube wasn’t disgraced on his hurdles bow at Ludlow but was then well beaten at Exeter. He may still be the best of those with jumping experience ahead of Teaser, who didn’t look an easy ride when second at Wincanton, and Bold Reason, but this may well go to a newcomer. Roundhead won Class 5 handicaps on the Flat at Musselburgh and Ripon in August but WAX AND WANE probably has stronger credentials, even though he doesn’t really have a jumping pedigree. A dual winner over a mile as a juvenile for Karl Burke, he’s placed at Ayr and Redcar this season in decent company and stamina won’t be a problem.
Admiral Spice (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, weakened before next, 8th of 10, 36 1/4l behind Elysees (11-4) at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Bold Reason (GER) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, ridden 3 out, weakened and eased next, 5th of 9, dist behind Nelson River (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Johni Boxit 125-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, struggling 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind Fanfan Du Seuil (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Karakoram 40-1 (8-10) Raced keenly, led after 1f, headed well over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 13, dist behind Zarrar (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Metatrons Cube (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, driven and outpaced after 3 out, never near leaders, 6th of 11, 34 1/4l behind Fanfan Du Seuil (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Miniature Daffodil (IRE) 28-1 (9-6) Mid-division, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on to take narrow 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 15, 5 1/4l behind Liberisque (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (7) pol in Oct.
Peloric 14-1 (10-12) Behind, mistake 2nd, never on terms, 7th of 10, 18 1/2l behind Tazka (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gs in Nov.
Roundhead 7-2 (9-8) Raced wide close up, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on to lead final strides, won at Ripon 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Aug beating Breathable (9-6) by shd, 5 ran.
Shaji 50-1 (9-5) Prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out until inside final furlong, soon outpaced, 4th of 12, 6 3/4l behind Houlton (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Teaser 6-4 (10-12) Left in lead 2nd, narrowly headed 4 out, pressed winner, mistake next, every chance 2 out, ridden between last 2, chance when wandered badly and mistake last, no chance after, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Cheeky Rascal (10-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) fm in Oct.
Toshima (IRE) 11-4 (9-9) Led narrowly, driven and headed 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, eased final furlong, last of 7, 18 3/4l behind Victoria Drummond (8-11) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f stks (5) pol in Oct.
True Thoughts (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Always behind, reminder after 2nd, tailed off 4 out, 10th of 11, dist behind Fanfan Du Seuil (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Wax And Wane 10-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, pushed along 4f out, headway on outside under pressure into modest 3rd over 1f out, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Billy Ray (9-7) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Bright Saffron 40-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 15 1/2l behind Dance To Paris (10-10) at Fakenham 2m fll (4) gd in Oct.