mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 7th, chased winner and driven before 3 out, lost 2nd and beaten from 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, pushed along and struggling when not fluent 7th, behind and pulled up before next
chased leaders, challenged after 3rd, led after 6th, headed flat, led again towards finish, stayed on well
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th or 7th, weakened after 9th, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, not fluent 8th, ridden after next, headway when mistake 3 out, chased winner 2 out, led flat, headed towards finish
prominent, not fluent 5th, ridden when mistake 7th, 3rd and held when hung left flat, one pace
in rear, not fluent 7th or 8th, headway 9th, mistake and weakened 3 out
held up, raced keenly, closed 2nd, hit 8th, weakened after next, pulled up before 3 out
led, headed after 6th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
This is a competitive handicap but YOUNG BULL is a progressive young stayer who should have more to offer now going handicapping and he’s already won over the track and trip. Last year’s winner Teescomponents Lad is 8lb higher while course specialist Skipthescales has an absence to overcome but it would be no surprise to see Dubai Angel go close to a second victory here in succession, though he was pulled up in this last year. Eaton Hill can go well at bigger odds as he’s now 2lb lower than when second in a Grade 3 at Aintree in April of last year. Ozzy Thomas ran a cracker for a 33/1 chance at Cheltenham and makes more appeal than Kingofthecotswolds with the lightly-raced Rare Clouds also worth a market check.
Teescomponents Lad 6-1 (11-7) Not fluent 1st, prominent until lost place and behind after 2nd, ridden after 3 out, not fluent last, kept on flat, never going pace to challenge, 5th of 9, 9 1/2l behind Rapper (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Kingofthecotswolds (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, outpaced in 5th when fell 4 out, at Ludlow 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov.
Young Bull (IRE) 11-10fav (11-4) Prominent, joined leader 4 out, led narrowly next, ridden and ran on gamely flat, won at Wetherby 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec beating Maid In Manhattan (10-5) by 1l, 12 ran.
Dubai Angel (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 4 out, led next, ridden and ran on, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Lisdoonvarna Lad (11-9) by 6l, 10 ran.
Ozzy Thomas (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Raced wide, mid-division, headway after 3 out (usual 4 out), challenged 2 out, led approaching last, ridden and headed soon after, switched left and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 16, 3l behind Duc De Beauchene (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Skipthescales (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Ridden along to soon lead, pushed along 7th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, rallied flat to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Minella Warrior (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Eaton Hill (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway when mistake 8th, no impression on last bend, 7th of 8, 16 1/4l behind Boreham Bill (11-5) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Rare Clouds 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, driven into 2nd before 3 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner when hit next, lost place flat, 3rd of 9, 8 3/4l behind Thor De Cerisy (11-0) at Newcastle 2m mdn (4) hvy in Nov.
Applaus (GER) 5-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 1st, soon lost place, pulled up soon after winning post, at Hexham 2m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
