led, not always fluent, mistake 3 out, headed before 2 out, every chance flat, 3rd and no extra towards finish
held up in rear, steady headway from 6th, beaten 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no extra
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, behind when pulled up before 7th
took keen hold, prominent, not fluent 6th or 7th, lost place when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, lost place 5th, headway after 8th, not fluent 3 out, led flat, edged left, held on
held up on outside, headway after 5th, lost place next, well beaten after 8th
always prominent, ridden 3 out, led flat, soon headed, stayed on, just held
prominent, came to stands rail after 3 out, soon led, not fluent last, headed flat, one pace
held up in rear, headway before 8th, mistake 3 out, not fluent last, one pace
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place before 3rd, headway 6th, mistake 3 out, no extra last
in rear, headway before 8th, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, blundered 7th, soon beaten
Weather Front is one to keep an eye on after shaping with distinct promise on his comeback run after well over a year off when fourth at Musselburgh last month behind an Irish 'good thing' in The Mouse Doctor. Good market support for the lightly-raced McLintock charge would be significant. BHUTAN inhabits the same mark as Weather Front and has every chance here. The subject of a stewards' enquiry the last day, the best of his form reads well and the drop in trip should not prove an inconvenience. He is a risk worth taking. Becky The Thatcher is solid but greater danger may emerge from the lower end of the weights where both Always Resolute and Florrie Boy catch the eye on the return from lengthy absences in a race full of 'ifs and buts.'
Khage (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Led 2nd, mistake and headed 5th, last when mistake next, getting behind when slow 7th, soon pulled up, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (3) hvy in Dec.
Antunes 10-1 (11-3) Towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 4 out, behind and pulled up quickly before 3 out, at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Becky The Thatcher 11-4 (11-9) Led to before 8th, chased leader, driven after 3 out, lost place next, weakened between last 2, last of 4, 30 1/2l behind Taxmeifyoucan (11-4) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 6-1 (11-13) Led and set good pace, went clear 6th, reduced lead 4 out, ridden and headed before next, lost 2nd before 2 out, blundered and weakened 2 out, 7th of 8, 28l behind Erick Le Rouge (11-6) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Secrete Stream (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Held up, slow 2nd, mistake 4 out, soon beaten, 6th of 8, dist behind Flashjack (11-9) at Haydock 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Demi Sang (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Always behind, tailed off from 3 out, 8th of 12, dist behind West To The Bridge (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Weather Front (USA) 18-1 (11-12) Keen tracked leaders, pushed along 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 13 3/4l behind The Mouse Doctor (10-8) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Bhutan (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, mistake 5th, pushed along approaching 3 out, went 4th before 2 out, no impression, 4th of 6, 8 1/4l behind Dolphin Square (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Fransham 16-1 (11-6) Held up tracking leaders 5th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 9, 31l behind Never Adapt (11-8) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Always Resolute 10-1 (8-6) Tracked leader, lead over 5f out, headed over 1f out, rallied to regain lead inside final furlong, kept on well, won at York 2m hcp (3) sft in Jul beating Makawee (9-7) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Florrie Boy (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway 4out, soon ridden, effort between last 2, kept on same pace run in, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Shantou Village (11-12) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Zig Zag (IRE) 11-1 (10-10) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge 3 out, weakening when mistake next, 5th of 12, 25l behind West To The Bridge (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
