chased leaders on inside, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 5th, behind next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, closer on inside into mid-division, approaching 6th, weakened before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders after 4 out, plugged on
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon lost place, behind and pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off
chased leader until 2nd, chased leaders, 2nd again before 6th until after 4 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened quickly after 3 out
led until after 3rd, chased leaders, weakened quickly before 6th, tailed off next, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, closer on outside chasing leaders after 4 out, weakened between last 2
chased leaders, close 2nd after 4 out challenged and went right last, ridden and stayed on run-in, led final 100 yards
always behind, never a factor, tailed off
chased leaders, awkward 3rd, pushed along and lost place before 3 out, behind and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3 out, ridden and outpaced before next, rallied from last, kept on well run-in
always towards rear, hampered flat after 6th, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
raced wide in touch, weakened quickly before 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, led after 3rd, ridden before 2 out, mistake 2 out, joined last, hung left run-in, headed 100 yards out, lost 2nd close home
towards rear, bit closer on inside in mid-division before 4 out, headway chasing leaders before next, went 2nd close home
held up and behind, closer in mid-division when stumbled and unseated rider on flat after 6th
A maximum field for this modest handicap. Five of the 18-strong field started favourite last time but none won and Pond Road and Galtee Mountain were pulled up. The latter had earlier beaten With Pleasure and Nothing Man at Warwick but John Flint’s charge may do best of that trio today. Elton des Mottes could be interesting eased in grade as he’s still relatively unexposed compared to the likes of The Premier Celtic. Very Intense and Project Mars are both entitled to improve on comeback efforts but SAY THE WORD has a weight-for-age allowance in his favour and can prevail. Second three times on the Flat, he’s been consistent enough over timber apart from when failing to handle the mud at Hereford. The four-year-old is worth a try over the extra half-mile.
Elton Des Mottes (FR) 13-2 (11-6) Not fluent, tracked leaders, took keen hold, led after 3 out, headed before 2 out, no extra last, hanging left flat, 9th of 11, 12l behind Megalodon (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Butler's Brief (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Mid-division, led 3 out, soon headed, one pace and no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Enry Iggins (11-12) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Very Intense (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway before 3 out, led next, headed last, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Massini's Dream (12-0) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Ninth Wave (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place after 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, went 4th towards finish, 4th of 12, 12 1/4l behind Shimba Hills (10-1) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
With Pleasure 7-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led before 2 out, driven 2 out, soon went clear, joined when mistake last, weakened run-in, 3rd of 15, 9l behind Galtee Mountain (10-5) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Milesha (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Behind, reminders after 5th, soon weakened, at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
The Premier Celtic 6-1 (11-4) Pressed leader, led before 3 out, ridden and headed before next where dropped to 3rd, plugged on, 3rd of 12, 9 3/4l behind Ruby Yeats (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Winged Affair (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Led until 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 12, 29 3/4l behind Hijack (11-10) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Skylanna Breeze (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 11, dist behind Rootless Tree (10-12) at Leicester 2m (3) hvy in Dec.
Project Mars (IRE) 5-2fav (11-2) Mistake 1st, mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, strongly pressed last, headed and no extra run-in, 2nd of 12, 8 1/2l behind Ruby Yeats (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Queen Of The Court (IRE) 200-1 (10-9) Held up and behind, good headway on outside tracking leaders after omitted 6th, pushed along on long run before 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 28 1/2l behind Butterwick Brook (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.
Tis Fantastic (FR) 2-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, soon headed, kept on and no impression from last, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Norwegian Woods (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Pond Road (FR) 4-1fav (11-1) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Raise Your Shades (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Chased leader, jumped right 3rd, not fluent 5th, lost 2nd after 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 8, 16 1/4l behind Massini's Dream (12-0) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Dapa Lad (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, mistake 4 out, soon beaten, 9th of 16, 37 1/2l behind Imperial Elysian (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Galtee Mountain (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Prominent, not fluent 3rd or 4th, led 5th, headed next, soon led again, headed after 3 out and weakened, pulled up after, at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Say The Word 9-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden before 2 out, went 3rd from last, one pace, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Chinwag (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (5) gs in Feb.
Nothing Man (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders before 5th, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 15, 31 3/4l behind Galtee Mountain (10-5) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
