mid-division, headway 12th, hampered 3 out, 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, lost 2nd and stayed on same pace flat
prominent until brought down 3 out
prominent, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, stayed on, ridden out
prominent, not fluent and lost place 2nd, slow and ridden next, last 4th, tailed off 11th, stayed on well after 2 out, no chance
held up in rear, brought down 12th
held up towards rear, mistake 8th, hampered 12th, mistake next, headway before 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, led 6th, hit 10th, headed 4 out, lost 2nd and fading 2 out
held up towards rear, some headway before 8th, pecked 4 out, well beaten after
mistakes, held up, closed 3rd, lost place when fell 11th
mid-division, blundered 10th, behind when hampered 12th, tailed off 4 out
prominent, every chance when fell 3 out
led until 6th, jinked left and jumped doll fence after 9th, continued and chasing leaders when fell 12th
held up in rear, headway 4 out, 3rd 2 out, fading last, weakened flat
prominent until 1st, mistake and towards rear 5th, driven and headway after 7th, weakened next, tailed off before 12th, soon pulled up
Half of this field won last-time out and there is strength-in-depth. Royal Vacation was a lucky winner of the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day but Colin Tizzard’s charge cannot be ignored. Singlefarmpayment won well here last month while Irish raider Uncle Danny confirmed earlier promise when successful in a big field at Cork. Mercian Prince is still improving and there should be more to come from Uttoxeter scorer Burtons Well but Champers On Ice may need a longer trip and softer going. Ibis Du Rheu was second behind a decent novice off this mark at Chepstow but we’ll take a chance on stablemate MORE BUCK’S. A sound jumper, he has won over 3m but this is probably his best trip and he led until the second-last at Kempton last month against more experienced rivals. Dropped a pound since, Harry Cobden’s claim is also in his favour.
Ibis Du Rheu (FR) 4-1jfav (11-8) Mid-division, lost place 8th, closed 11th, every chance in 3rd 3 out, 2nd when not fluent last, no impression on winner flat, stayed in, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Pobbles Bay (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Uncle Danny (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Made all, mistake 4 out, asserted after next and slight mistake 2 out, stayed on well from before last, eased run-in, won at Cork 2m 4f hvy in Jan beating General Principle (11-12) by 5l, 16 ran.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Raced wide, tracked leaders, went 2nd 13th, not fluent next, hit 2 out, 10 lengths down and no impression when left clear last, won at Kempton 3m (1) gd in Dec beating Virgilio (11-7) by 12l, 10 ran.
Champers On Ice (IRE) 15-8fav (11-4) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 6th, 2nd after 11th until 14th, 2nd again before last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind American (11-4) at Warwick 3m lst (1) sft in Jan.
Singlefarmpayment 9-2 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway 13th, challenging when bumped 3 out, led before next, clear approaching last, idled, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f (2) gd in Dec beating Arpege D'alene (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Potters Legend 6-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, jumped slowly 9th, blundered 13th, plugging on when hampered 3 out, mistake last, modest 4th run-in, 4th of 13, 14 1/4l behind Belami Des Pictons (11-1) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Burtons Well (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led 3rd, mistake next, hit 11th, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Pistol Park (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Theo's Charm (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) Left in 2nd place and bumped 1st, disputed lead after, went left 11th and pushed along, ridden and every chance before 4 out until lost 2nd 4 out, one pace and no impression in 3rd 2 out, modest 2nd again run-in, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Robinsfirth (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) sft in Jan.
Zarib (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, pressed leader 2 out, ridden before last, kept on to lead last 50 yards, won at Leicester 2m 4f (3) gf in Dec beating Master Dee (11-10) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Dark Flame (IRE) 7-1fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along in 4th place after 10th, 3rd after 3 out, one pace run-in, 3rd of 15, 6 1/4l behind Poker School (10-3) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 7-2fav (11-11) Well placed in 5th, tracked leading pair travelling well 3 out, challenged last, led run-in, stayed on strongly, driven out, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating All Together (11-12) by 2l, 14 ran.
More Buck's (IRE) 11-4fav (11-4) Raced keenly, went right 1st, pressed leader, led 5th until 11th, led again 4 out, slight lead when pecked 2 out, ridden and headed before the last, soon dropped to 3rd, weakened into 4th 100 yards out, 4th of 8, 7l behind Double Shuffle (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Goohar (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, closed 8th, led 2 out, clear last, stayed on, won at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Dontminddboys (10-3) by 4 1/2l, 14 ran.
Get Involved (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Blundered and unseated rider 2nd, at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
