led, ridden approaching last, headed flat, no extra
behind, pushed along 7th, not fluent 11th, progress into 4th 14th, no impression
soon not going well, not fluent 8th, mistake 10th, behind next, soon pulled up
slow when in rear 1st, closed 2nd, mistake next, soon lost place, well behind before 14th, pulled up after
mid-division headway 9th, went 2nd after 11th, not fluent 3 out, lost 2nd last, weakened flat
mid-division, bumped 1st, not fluent 8th, blundered 10th, ridden in 3rd 14th, closed before mistake 2 out, went 2nd last, led flat, soon clear
prominent, jumped right 8th, struggling 13th, behind next, pulled up after
bumped and unseated rider 1st
prominent, not fluent 4th, lost place before 12th, tailed off
Vicenzo Mio has never won over fences and is trying a new trip on the eve of his 11th birthday. There are going concerns surrounding Alberto's Dream and also Horatio Hornblower but AUBUSSON was able to dominate on heavy ground at Lingfield last time and kept on well in the closing stages. He’s only gone up 2lb and could also lead these a merry dance with Western Climate looking a few pounds too high at present. Shanroe Santos was pulled up at Sandown but this looks easier and he stays well, though hasn’t won in more than two years.
Aubusson (FR) 17-2 (11-7) Led, headed narrowly 9th, led again 3 out, pressed next, ridden out, gamely, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Aintree My Dream (11-12) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Shanroe Santos (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, slow 16th, under pressure 18th, weakened after 3 out (usual 4 out) and pulled up last, at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
The Fresh Prince (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Held up on inside, mistake 10th, headway 13th, not fluent 4 out, no impression next, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Optimistic Bias (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Solstice Star 100-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 15th of 19, 12 1/4l behind Captain Tom Cat (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Horatio Hornblower (IRE) 17-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, lost place 14th, plugged on one pace from 3 out, 4th of 10, 22 3/4l behind Twojayslad (10-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Western Climate (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Led until 3rd, chased leader until 8th, chased leaders until lost place before mistake 12th, rallied into remote 4th run-in, 4th of 9, 23 1/4l behind Accordingtogino (11-10) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Hedgeinator (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Disputed lead until chased leaders after 5 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 11, dist behind Pres (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Alberto's Dream 8-1 (11-10) Close up, led after 5th, headed briefly 6th, jumped left 7th, headed before 8th where left in front, headed before 4 out, ridden and jumped left 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 15, 10 1/2l behind Mr Palmtree (11-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Vicenzo Mio (FR) 10-3 (10-0) Tracked winner until 4th, tracked leaders, outpaced 7th, reminders 9th, rallied approaching last, kept on flat, 4th of 5, 5 3/4l behind Aubusson (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.