After a couple of runs, Hollow Blue Sky should be approaching peak fitness and must have a chance in a race like this off bottom weight with his amateur rider claiming a further 7lb. Bears Rails is tried in blinkers in an attempt to rekindle enthusiasm and is another for the short-list. Beer Goggles will have learnt plenty from his third at Ffos Las but Expedite departed at the first on his chasing debut at Ascot in a race in which Dawson City was well beaten. ARDKILLY WITNESS has been dropped a further pound since hinting at a revival at Sandown and his turn may have come around again as Velator is a weak finisher.
Dawson City 20-1 (11-2) Prominent, left in lead 1st, headed 4 out, lost 2nd next, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 9, dist behind Beware The Bear (11-3) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Saint Raph (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division on inside, towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 12th, at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Ardkilly Witness (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Tracked leading trio, went 2nd 4th until 10th, chased leading pair, not fluent 14th, lost 3rd 18th, chased leading trio, pushed along and hit 3 out, rallied into 3rd approaching next where went right, no impression, went badly right last, 3rd of 9, 6 1/2l behind More Buck's (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Velator 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, chased new leader 10th until 12th, chased leaders, weakened approaching next, soon behind, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Dancing Shadow (11-4) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Expedite (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Chasing leaders when blundered and unseated rider 1st, at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Beer Goggles (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, one pace in 3rd from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 18 1/2l behind West Wizard (11-13) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Paddy's Field (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-9) Chased leaders, challenged after 12th, blundered and lost place 4 out, well beaten after next, 7th of 10, 27 3/4l behind Brandon Hill (11-12) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Sonny The One 9-4fav (11-6) Tracked leader until 4th, chased leaders, pushed along in dispute of 4th when blundered badly and unseated rider 4 out, at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Bears Rails 5-1 (11-5) In touch, in mid-division, lost place 13th, mistake 4 out, rallied after 3 out, 4th and beaten when not fluent next, stayed on same pace, 4th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Brandon Hill (11-12) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Hollow Blue Sky (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Close up, led 2nd, blundered 6 out, headed 5 out, ridden before 4 out, weakened after last, 6th of 11, 9l behind Walk On Al (11-8) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
