close up, led before 2 out, clear before last, kept on well
towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, effort before 2 out, kept on same pace
prominent, outpaced after 3 out, kept on from last
mid-division, tracked leaders after 3rd, ridden after last, kept on
jumped off very slowly and reluctantly, well in rear, soon caught up main group, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, weakened before last
led, headed before 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before last
mid-division, lost place after 4 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway before 2 out, weakened after last
held up towards rear, lost place before 4 out, tailed off
NonRunner
This rates a pretty hot contest for one confined to conditional and amateur pilots. Tea Clipper sets out to defend an unbeaten record off joint topweight and commands great respect for the Lacey team. The step-up in trip will hold no problem for the gelding as he has a 3m point-to-point win in the book but the slight concern is that he has yet to operate on soft ground or worse. He may well improve for doing so but EARTH MOOR houses no such ground issues and is taken to make it four on the bounce after returning to winning action last time after a lengthy absence. Others to consider in a good race are the lightly-raced and unexposed Espoir De Romay, Misty Bloom who steps down in grade and the consistent Danse Idol from the yard of the champion trainer.
Espoir De Romay (FR) 3-1 (11-3) Made most, driven after 3 out, clear next, ridden and hard pressed last, kept on until headed and not much room towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Prince Kayf (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 6f (2) hvy in Nov.
Kuiper Belt (USA) 100-1 (11-7) Towards rear, outpaced halfway, soon struggling, at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Misty Bloom (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, never on terms, 12th of 16, dist behind Dame De Compagnie (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Hygrove Percy 20-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, lost place before 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 11, 28 1/4l behind Eva's Oskar (10-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Earth Moor (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Led, headed before 2 out, challenged last, soon ridden, led run-in, kept on gamely, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating River Bray (10-11) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
River Bray (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on to chase winner towards finish, always held, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Earth Moor (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Danse Idol (IRE) 3-1fav (10-13) Held up last, mistake 4th, headway on inside on long run before 2 out, plugged on in 3rd between last 2, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Coded Message (10-6) at Kempton 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Lungarno Palace (USA) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, blundered and unseated rider 1st, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Lillington (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Prominent, mistake 6th, lost place next, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Espalion (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Towards rear, some headway after 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 15, 17 1/4l behind Annsam (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Uno Mas 25-1 (11-9) In rear, pushed along before 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 10th of 12, dist behind Strong Glance (12-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Tea Clipper (IRE) 7-4fav (11-11) Mid-division, headway 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon bumped and led, awkward and headed last, stayed on, led again towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Magic Dancer (11-10) by nk, 11 ran.
