chased leaders, slow 1st, went 2nd 7th, led after 5 out, headed 4 out, rallied from 2 out, upsides when left well clear last
held up, not fluent 1st, closed from 4th, led 4 out, joined when fell last
led until 1st, led 2nd, headed 4th, blundered and lost place 7th, struggling 9th, behind from next
held up on outside, closed 6th, mistake 9th, not fluent 11th, outpaced before 5 out, weakened next
held up in last, headway on inside after 11th, not fluent and outpaced 5 out, mistake 4 out and 2 out, left 3rd last, kept on, went 2nd close home, no chance with winner
led 1st, bad mistake and headed next, led 4th, headed after 5 out, 3rd and held from 3 out, left 2nd last, lost 2nd close home
NonRunner
Gala Ball and stablemate Tidal Flow are also entered at Wincanton and Not Another Muddle is engaged at Kempton. Tiquer is 5lb higher than when taking this last season but conditions won’t be a problem and the evergreen teenager has run well fresh in the past. My Way ran well at Wincanton in November but is now 0-11 over fences and racing from a pound out of the handicap here with Cepage, pulled up on his reappearance but a useful sort at his best, standing his ground. A clear round at Carlisle should have done wonders for the confidence of ESPRIT DU LARGE and the former Grade 1 winner has been dropped 3lb in the weights.
Cepage (FR) 9-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place before 8th, behind when not fluent 11th, pulled up before 4 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Esprit Du Large (FR) 10-11fav (11-9) Tracked leader, mistake 5th, almost upsides 8th, chased leaders when ridden 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 7 1/2l behind Whoshotthesheriff (10-12) at Carlisle 2m (2) hvy in Nov.
Tidal Flow 10-1 (11-9) In touch, outpaced 10th, pulled up 2 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Not Another Muddle 20-1 (11-0) Towards rear, mistake 5th, hampered next, pushed along and struggling before 10th, blundered next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out (normal 4 out), at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Tiquer (FR) 16-1 (10-7) In touch, went 2nd 4 out, led next, clear last, stayed on, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Springtown Lake (11-3) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
My Way (FR) 9-4fav (11-9) Held up in last trio, closer 10th, chased leaders 12th, went 2nd well before 3 out until ridden between last 2, chased leaders, 3rd when not fluent last, weakened run-in, 5th of 7, 21 1/2l behind Call Me Vic (11-3) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Gala Ball (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Led, blundered 1st, ridden and headed before last, switched right last, kept on to grab second final strides, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Clondaw Castle (11-8) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
