held up in last pair, headway on inside approaching 2 out, went well held 3rd at the last
made all, pushed along and quickened tempo before 3 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
chased winner, ridden home turn, lost 2nd turning in, mistake and lost 3rd 2 out, weakened soon after
close 3rd, went 2nd on inside turning in, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in, well held
held up in rear, went remote 5th between last two
held up in 4th, outpaced home turn, ridden and unable to quicken before 2 out, went 3rd 2 out, no impression when mistake and weakened into 4th at the last
NonRunner
Prince Imperial stayed further than 2m on the Flat so this step up in distance, after a couple of placed efforts here in novice events, seems sure to suit. Sponthus has ability but ran poorly at Huntingdon on Boxing Day. Thirtyfourstitches beat Le Patron here in December and is only a pound worse off but he was pulled up again at Fakenham on New Year’s Day. A switch back to hurdles may help Full Of Light but KOTMASK has been dropped a further 2lb since his third at Leicester so gets the vote.
Le Patron (FR) 11-4fav (12-1) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, squeezed for room and went 2nd next, pushed along turning in, ridden and no extra between last two, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Thirtyfourstitches (11-13) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Thirtyfourstitches (IRE) 17-2 (11-10) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened thereafter, pulled up after 2 out, at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Full Of Light (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Led, headed after 10th, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 5th of 7, 27 1/2l behind Will Sting (11-1) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Kotmask (FR) 15-8 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, mistake last, no impression on winner, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Apple Rock (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Pilbara 50-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th or 6th, headway on outside before 3 out, every chance 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 11 1/4l behind Hurricane Harvey (12-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Prince Imperial (USA) 9-2 (11-5) Close up in chasing group, outpaced when pushed along after 3 out, kept on towards finish and went third final strides, 3rd of 12, 10 1/2l behind Hansard (11-12) at Plumpton 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Sponthus (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, led after 5th, headed before next, mistake 7th, lost place after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 13, 36 1/2l behind Supreme Gift (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
