held up towards rear, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged winner from 2 out, no extra towards finish
in touch, weakened after 7th
with leader, led 2nd, headed before 7th, ridden and weakened after 7th
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, pushed along 6th, headway next, ridden after 3 out, not fluent 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakening when not fluent last
prominent, joined leaders 6th, every chance when blundered 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out
prominent, hit 7th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
held up, raced keenly, always in rear, weakened 7th, tailed off
held up, in touch from 2nd, led before 7th, stayed on well flat
This race has fallen to some smart sorts in the past and this year should be no exception with a strong field due to go to post. TEDDY'S REFLECTION looks likely to start at a double figure price and could reward each-way support. Helpston won well at Lingfield before chasing home Pause And Clause at Kempton despite being held up in his work so he could well improve on that form today. Mahonia failed to run his race when around eighteen lengths behind McMurrough at Haydock when the latter was having his first run over obstacles. The Nicholls runner is better than he showed whilst Malcolm Jefferson's horse should improve for that initial experience. Son Of Flicka was four lengths in front of him in second and should relish this trip as he shapes like a stayer but he may lack the gears to get the best of the best of these. Cracboumwiz was a shade disappointing at Hereford but may have been feeling the effects of his comeback; he cannot be written off yet. Martys Mission has to put a poor run behind him whilst this is a big step up for Pale Rider (following his third to Ainama and Hebridean), for King Ar Aghaidh (whose defeat of Carrickboy has been franked by the runner-up) and Time For Rupert (who had been quite highly tried prior to winning at Catterick). Teddy's Reflection also needs to step up on the form that he's shown but he impressed with the way he moved through the race when winning at Fontwell. He was well held at Newbury and has something to find with Helpston on a line through Pause And Clause but he ran better than the bare form suggests as he was asked to make up his ground from a long way off the pace and that effort told in the straight. Hopefully, Teddy's Reflection will race closer to the pace and have enough in reserve to play a part at the business end.
Helpston 7-1 (11-12) Chased winner until approaching 2 out, rallied under pressure to regain modest 2nd before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Pause And Clause (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (2) sft.
Mahonia (IRE) 10-3 (11-11) Led to 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 22l behind Alfie Flits (11-11) at Haydock 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Cracboumwiz (FR) 15-8 (11-11) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 4th, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression when not fluent last, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Burton Port (11-4) at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
King Ar Aghaidh (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, chased leaders 7th, ridden 3 out, led last, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Carrickboy (11-6) by 4l, 13 ran.
Martys Mission (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inside, lost place after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Cape Tribulation (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
McMurrough (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on strongly from last, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Alfie Flits (11-11) at Haydock 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Pale Rider (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway when went left 5th, ridden when left 3rd 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 16, 13l behind Ainama (11-4) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Son Of Flicka 8-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, outpaced approaching 2 out, chased winner last, no impression, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Alfie Flits (11-11) at Haydock 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Teddy's Reflection (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and weakened soon after 4 out, 7th of 16, 32l behind Mad Max (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Time For Rupert (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Keen early, in touch, headway 3 out, led before next, clear last, stayed on well, won at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Be Brief (11-5) by 3l, 14 ran.
