held up towards rear, closed 3rd, lost place 8th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch in mid-division, closed 6th, no extra in 5th 3 out, left 4th 2 out
fell 1st
held up in rear on inside, not fluent 4th or 7th, headway 8th, held in 4th 3 out, went 8 lengths 3rd when fell 2 out
led on outside, jumped right 2 out, soon headed, not much room last, held flat, kept on
2nd or 3rd, reminders after 8th, 4th and held when left 3rd 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division on inside, ridden 8th, weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, headway after 8th, went 2nd before 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, edged right last, stayed on
2nd or 3rd until 8th, soon weakened, tailed off
Another very competitive handicap but chasers Midnight Shadow and Good Boy Bobby are probably having their handicap marks protected ahead of a trip to The Festival next month. Veteran Secrete Stream goes well here and will have needed his run at Haydock. No Comment is creeping up the weights again but has every chance on his latest second at Hereford. ALBERT’S BACK (NAP) bolted up over 2m here in November and was even more impressive over this trip at Haydock. He’s gone up another 8lb but left-handed flat tracks like this bring out the best in Mick Easterby’s charge and Brian Hughes is in the saddle again. West To The Bridge will also be picking off rivals in the closing stages if the pace is strong enough and Nightboattoclyro is well worth a try in this higher grade after comfortable victories at Doncaster and Chepstow.
Midnight Shadow 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, challenged before 2 out, no impression on winner last, kept on, 2nd of 17, 15l behind Chatham Street Lad (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Good Boy Bobby (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Towards rear after very slow 1st, headway 12th, outpaced 3 out, well held after, plugged on flat, 5th of 14, 16 1/4l behind Dashel Drasher (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Albert's Back 9-1 (11-4) Restrained towards rear, headway on outside 6th, travelled strongly to chase leaders 3 out, close up when ridden 2 out, led narrowly last, stayed on strongly under pressure flat, won at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Mcgowan's Pass (10-13) by 8l, 8 ran.
No Comment 5-2 (11-10) Settled at rear, good headway after 3 out, went second after 2 out, responded to pressure to dispute lead over last, led run-in but headed on line, 2nd of 7, shd behind Dans Le Vent (11-3) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
West To The Bridge (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, went 4th after 2 out but never on terms, well beaten last, 4th of 6, 27l behind Nightboattoclyro (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Miah Grace 5-2fav (11-12) Mid-division on inside, not fluent 3rd, headway when mistake 6th, not fluent 8th, went 2nd before 3 out, switched right approaching last where not fluent, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 7, 5 1/2l behind Shannon Bridge (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Secrete Stream (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up in midfield, ridden after 4 out, short of room on turn before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 8, 32l behind Albert's Back (11-4) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Nightboattoclyro 11-4jfav (10-7) Held up in 5th, not fluent 3rd, closed and switched left after 3 out, went 2nd next, led before last, ridden and stayed on well, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating First Lord De Cuet (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
En Meme Temps (FR) 16-5fav (11-13) Led, reminders after 1st (usual 2nd), jumped right last (usual 5th), ridden passing bypassed 3 out, headed before bypassed last, no extra, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Percy Pops (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
