made all, joined last, stayed on gamely under pressure to assert final 100 yards
on and off the bridle, tracked leading trio, pushed along after 8th, travelling better in 3rd approaching 3 out, ridden before 2 out, disputing 2nd when not fluent 2 out, no impression when mistake last, weakened
held up in touch, headway on inside into 4th after 3 out, 2nd before next, ridden between last two, challenged and every chance last, no extra final 100 yards
shade keen, raced wide, in touch, not fluent 3rd, weakened 4 out, soon behind, mistake next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up in last pair, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, went modest 4th last, never involved
tracked leading pair and keen, went 2nd 8th, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened 2 out
not fluent 1st, always in rear, tailed off
Robinroyale is no forlorn hope in this as Seamus Mullins’ charge escapes a penalty for beating a subsequent winner in a conditionals’ race at Chepstow and Daniel Sansom claims 10lb. He gets 10lb from Ballymalin, who has won three of his four starts over timber, and 6lb from Taunton scorer Laugharne. Mr Love and Zamparelli are both interesting recruit from the point-to-point circuit but ALPHA MALE looked ready for a step up in trip when a staying-on third over 2m5f at Ascot and that looks the strongest form.
Ballymalin (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Made all, pressed from 2 out, ridden before last, held on towards finish, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f (4) sft in Dec beating Billy Bronco (10-12) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Laugharne 9-4 (10-12) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 3 out, led next, stayed on well, won at Taunton 3m (4) gf in Dec beating Forecast (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Alpha Male (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Soon in rear, driven and outpaced after 3 out, headway on inside approaching 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, driven and kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Topofthegame (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f mdn (3) gs in Dec.
Beneagles (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, on inside, not fluent 1st, struggling before 7th, well behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Knight To Open (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, weakened 2f out, 7th of 10, 28 1/2l behind Clondaw Cian (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f (6) sft in Nov.
Mr Love (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Mid div, 4th aftr a mile until 2nd 1/2way, ld 4out, hdd up aftr 2out & no ex bef last, wknd flat, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Monbeg Worldwide (11-10) at Lismore 3m mdn hvy in Mar.
Robinroyale (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) In rear, reminders after 5th, headway under pressure 4 out, led next, soon ridden, drew clear from 2 out, kept on well, won at Chepstow 3m (4) gd in Dec beating The Bay Oak (11-4) by 6l, 10 ran.
Zamparelli (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Ww twrds rr, prog bef 5out, wo on outer bef 2out, hdd aft 2out & fair 4l 2nd when left clr last, ko to line, won at Rathcannon 3m mdn gd in Oct beating Ballinasilla (11-10) by 3l, 12 ran.
