led, not fluent 1st, headed after 3rd, led 5th, not fluent 2 out, stayed on well
prominent, led after 3rd, headed 5th, lost 2nd before 17th, soon beaten, behind 3 out, blundered 2 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, fell 10th
chased leaders on inside, not fluent 11th or 12th, outpaced 14th, soon lost place, behind 3 out
tracked leaders, slow and lost place 2nd, not fluent next, hampered 10th, headway 14th, went 2nd before 4 out, mistake 3rd, lost 2nd before next, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, closed after 8th, went 2nd before 17th until before 4 out, went 2nd again before 2 out, held by winner, stayed on
held up in rear, brought down 10th
held up towards rear, not fluent 12th, headway after 17th, weakened 3 out
NonRunner
NEARLY PERFECT (NAP) won over track and trip back in January and returned to action with a victory at Wetherby earlier this month. This looks less competitive and Neil King’s charge can go in again. Broadclyst and Barbrook Star placed on their penultimate outings but both failed to complete last time and Smuggler's Blues makes more appeal having missed out by only a neck at Plumpton recently. Sizing Cusimano disappointed when sent off favourite over a longer trip at Exeter and slides further down the weights.
Nearly Perfect 9-4fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, close up 11th, led before 4 out, stayed on, comfortably, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Chef D'Oeuvre (11-2) by 4 3/4l, 6 ran.
Realm Keeper (USA) 22-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, plugged on in 4th before 2 out, 4th of 11, 20l behind Darlac (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Broadclyst (IRE) 3-1fav (11-3) Mid-division, ridden and weakened before 15th, pulled up before 3 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Barbrook Star (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Prominent, edged right and not fluent 7th, lost place 13th, pulled up before 3 out, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Smuggler's Blues (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Midfield, headway before 4 out, slightly hampered 2 out, ridden to lead before last, headed last, kept on well, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Special Acceptance (11-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Sizing Cusimano 9-2fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, awkward 2nd, headway on outside into midfield back straight, ridden behind leaders 4 out, in touch 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 11, 10 1/2l behind Findusatgorcombe (10-0) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Lac Sacre (FR) 25-1 (11-2) In rear, hit 12th, not fluent 14th, soon weakened, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Cougar's Gold (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, 5th and just about in touch 2 out, soon outpaced, no impression, 5th of 7, 24 1/2l behind Cuban Pete (11-12) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Normandy Soldier 12-1 (11-13) Chased leaders, outpaced before 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th run-in, 4th of 11, 13 1/2l behind Favori De Sivola (10-3) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
