chased leaders, weakened from 6 out
in touch, headway before 10th, in remote 5th before 4 out, soon weakened
towards rear, headway 5 out, went 4th before 4 out, weakened next
held up, headway 6 out, went 3rd before 4 out, led last, kept on well
towards rear, never a factor
tracked leaders, lost place before halfway, pulled up
mid-division, pushed along halfway, tailed off 5 out, pulled up
led to 3rd, chased leader, led after 9th, headed 12th, every chance 3 out, kept on same pace run-in
mid-division, outpaced halfway, plugged on from 4 out, never dangerous
led from 3rd, headed after 9th, weakened from 5 out
with leader, lost place 11th, ridden after 5 out, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, headway halfway, led 12th, headed last, kept on and no chance with winner
AMBER GAMBLER was denied a winning opportunity by the weather at Lingfield yesterday but should complete his hat-trick here. Though penalised for an easy win at Fakenham on New Year’s Day, James King takes off 3lb and credible opposition looks thin on the ground. Joseph Mercer’s second here last time came over hurdles and he’s only made the frame once in eight tries over fences. Benefit In Kind and Frank The Slink look exposed but the latter’s stablemate Major Ridge could make the frame. Best Served Cold has won two hurdles and four point-to-points but hasn’t raced since March 2015.
Best Served Cold 4-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 8 out, ridden 2 out, kept on to chase winner towards finish, always held, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Soleil D'avril (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f (6) gs in Mar.
Longueville Flier (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Towards rear, pushed along before 12th, weakened from next, pulled up, at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Ballythomas 25-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway from 10th, struggling 13th, mistake next, blundered badly 15th, soon pulled up, at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Amber Gambler (GER) Evensfav (11-5) Close up, in rear when jumped right 1st and next, tracked leaders 8th, went 2nd 10th, led on bit 2 out, comfotable, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Jan beating The Jugopolist (11-3) by 6l, 5 ran.
Foot The Bill 16-1 (10-9) Led to after 5th, in touch, lost place 8th, soon behind, 5th of 8, 23 1/4l behind Touch Of Steel (11-1) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Frank The Slink 10-1 (11-2) Pressed leader until 7th, driven after 14th, rallied 3 out, every chance next, no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 10 1/4l behind Mister Don (11-12) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Fire (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, on outside, weakened approaching 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before next, at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Urban Gale (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, not fluent and struggling 7th, behind from 10th, 7th of 9, 22 3/4l behind Fly Home Harry (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Major Ridge (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) With winner, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 7, 21l behind Cabragh (10-13) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Notonebuttwo (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Close up, led 2nd, headed 6th, remained close up, weakened 4 out, 4th of 10, dist behind Forty Crown (10-10) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Benefit In Kind (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, outpaced before 4 out, blundered and weakened from 2 out, 5th of 10, 9l behind Achill Road Boy (12-0) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Joseph Mercer (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) In rear, headway 5th to tracked leader, led before 4 out, headed run-in, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Bako De La Saulaie (12-2) at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
