mid-division in touch, tracked leaders 4 out, effort after next, ridden and outpaced 2 out
mid-division on outside, headway 7th, led narrowly 3 out, driven and headed next, no extra before last
towards rear, headway before 3 out, soon chased leaders, one pace before last, ridden and stayed on to take 3rd near finish, no impression
made most, headed narrowly when fell 3 out
mid-division, headway on outside before 3 out, challenged next, soon ridden, stayed on and every chance flat, held towards finish
in touch on outside, challenged 3 out, led narrowly next, ridden and headed before last, one pace flat, held when lost 3rd near finish
held up behind, headway 3 out, challenged next, soon ridden, led narrowly when hung left approaching last, kept on well flat
close up on inside, pushed along after 4 out, lost place next, soon weakened, tailed off
always behind, struggling before 8th, tailed off 3 out
prominent, lost place when hampered 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
disputed lead to 6th, chased leaders, lost place 8th, behind 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Unpenalised for an earlier course and distance success, Magic Of Milan found only one too good at Newcastle last time but is 8lb higher today. Up Helly Aa King looked like placing until unseating a couple of hurdles out when the former won here while Lastin' Memories was only a length behind the eventual winner when falling at the last at Newcastle in December. Fairlee Grace finished a respectable fourth here on her first start since 2016 but was a couple of lengths behind runner-up AMBEROSE and it’s Nicky Richards’ unexposed mare that gets the vote to open her account handicapping for only the second time.
Amberose 8-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway 7th, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden after next, kept on and every chance after last, readily outpaced by winner closing stages, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Northern Girl (11-8) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Asking For Answers (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Towards rear, driven after 4 out, never near leaders, 8th of 17, 30 3/4l behind Off The Hook (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Along Came Theo (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, mistake 7th, headway 4 out, chased leaders after next, weakened before last, 8th of 11, 29 1/2l behind Kalaharry (11-8) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
St George's Oval (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, ridden and headway before last, kept on and no impression, 4th of 7, 16l behind Kloud Gate (12-1) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Up Helly Aa King 12-1 (11-7) Held up on inside, not fluent 3rd, headway before 3 out, not clear run before 2 out and switched left, tracking leaders going ok when mistake and unseated rider at 2 out, at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Lastin' Memories 7-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, mistake 3 out, ridden to challenge next, close 4th when fell last, at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Arctic Road 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway on inside 4 out, close up 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 15, 21 3/4l behind Oliver's Island (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Magic Of Milan (IRE) 4-7fav (10-12) Tracked leader, ridden to lead 2 out, headed flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Wig Wam Wiggle (11-7) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Heather Burning (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway under pressure after last (usual 3 out), ridden and stayed on into modest 4th over 1f out, no chance with clear leaders, 4th of 14, 19 1/2l behind Border Victor (10-9) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Fairlee Grace 40-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, smooth headway on outside after 4 out, every chance next, ridden after 2 out, one pace when not fluent last, kept on, held when lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Northern Girl (11-8) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Cadore (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Behind, not much room on inside after 4 out, soon pushed along, stayed on to dispute modest 4th flat, no impression, 5th of 10, 19 1/4l behind Lastin' Memories (10-11) at Newcastle 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
