hit 1st, tracked leaders, driven and outpaced 9th, ridden 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd next, no impression
with leader, jumped right 5th, lost place 3 out, weakened next
made most on outside, ridden 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
raced keenly, held up behind, lost touch 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
raced keenly, held up, headway and in touch 8th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
held up in touch, headway 3 out, led approaching last, drew clear flat, eased near finish
with leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
Sheriff Hutton has been in good form of late but there is a suspicion that the handicapper now has the measure of Tim Walford's gelding and a safer bet looks to be BOLD POLICY, who gets the vote ahead of Tighten Your Belt. Don McCain's gelding ran better here last time after a couple of disappointing efforts and he has to be considered with the stable's runners in such good form at present. Chris Grant's Laertes is hard to recommend on recent form, while Wild Cane Ridge has been well beaten in both starts this term but Len Lungo's team are beginning to hit form. Richard Guest's Dan Buoy is probably a shade high in the weights now after his win here in November and a better bet looks to be Bold Policy. With Ruby Walsh in action at Sandown, Paul Nicholls has booked Nick Scholfield for the mount on the six-year-old who was an easy winner of a Fontwell handicap last time. Although his two main market rivals both fell that day, there was plenty to like about the way that Bold Policy won that race and he is taken to follow up here.
Wild Cane Ridge (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Led to 11th, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 11, 36l behind Malko De Beaumont (10-2) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Laertes 10-1 (11-5) In rear from 3rd, struggling from 8th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Royal Mackintosh (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Tighten Your Belt (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 4 out, challenged when blundered badly next, kept on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Final Veto (10-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Sheriff Hutton (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon driven and no extra, 4th of 12, 7l behind Final Veto (10-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Dan Buoy (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, struggling from 7th, 7th of 10, 40l behind The Very Man (11-0) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Bold Policy (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) In touch, headway 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on well from last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec beating Atlantic Coast (11-0) by 13l, 12 ran.
Heraldry (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mistakes, soon behind, no chance when fell at the 15th in race won by According To Pete (11-10) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (3) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
Rimsky Korsakov (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Led, headed approaching 3f out, driven and one pace from next, 4th of 14, 11l behind Falpiase (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
