mid-division, closed before 4th, not fluent 8th, challenged 3 out, led and pecked slightly next, headed before not fluent last, switched left and held flat, stayed on
chased leaders, outpaced when not fluent 2 out, soon well held
led, mistake 6th, headed when fell 3 out
held up in rear, ridden and some headway before 3 out, no impression, well held 2 out
mid-division, closed after 4th lost place before 5th, not fluent 7th, closed from after 8th, led before last, edged right flat, stayed on
held up on outside, not always fluent, headway before 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, led before last, soon headed, faded flat
mid-division, pushed along before 2nd, struggling after 8th, never back on terms
prominent, led before 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, beaten when not fluent last
held up in rear, headway after 8th, every chance after 2 out, held last, kept on flat
prominent until after 1st, chased leaders, hit 3rd, struggling when hampered 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 4th, well beaten before 3 out
Storm Arising finished a place ahead of Farrants Way with Illegal Model further behind when just foiled by the late rally of Portrush Ted at Sandown but Venetia Williams’ charge may fare best of that trio today. Clyne was worn down close home by Queenohearts at Haydock last month but that was his best run for a while. Ask Dillon was only beaten a head at Carlisle and Liam Harrison’s claim will help ease his welter burden and Nordano is interesting tackling this trip for the first time given he won over an extended 2m3f as a four-year-old and goes well here. EXPLOITEUR’s progress should not be underplayed and he proved his stamina here last time. Still ate the right end of the handicap, the seven-year-old will make a bold bid to complete the hat-trick.
Ask Dillon (IRE) 5-2jfav (11-12) Tracked leader, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and reminders approaching last, kept on run-in, just failed to reach winner final strides, 2nd of 7, hd behind Captain Zebo (11-12) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Nordano (GER) 14-1 (10-12) Prominent, lost ground towards rear 4 out, ridden before 3 out, tailed off 2 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Botox Has (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
Clyne 5-1 (12-2) Chased leader, close up 7th, ridden before 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, joined last, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Queenohearts (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Sykes (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Chased leaders out wide, chance 3 out, pushed along and weakened before next, last of 12, 37 1/4l behind Dell' Arca (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Storm Arising (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Raced keenly chasing leaders, pushed along after 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, hard ridden run-in, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Portrush Ted (11-12) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Flashjack (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Ridden handy, not fluent 1st, hit 8th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 17, 13 3/4l behind Main Fact (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Perfect Man (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Led, hit 3rd, ridden after 3 out, narrow advantage last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Leicester 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec beating Niblawi (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Boyhood (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, headway when not fluent 2 out, no impression, weakened before last, 9th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Come On Teddy (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Illegal Model (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway chasing leaders 3 out, weakened between last 2, lost modest 4th run-in, 5th of 10, 6 3/4l behind Portrush Ted (11-12) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Exploiteur (FR) 4-5fav (11-2) Held up in rear, smooth headway to press leader 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden and led last, driven out run-in, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Gustavian (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Farrants Way (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-0) Mostly pressed leader, led 7th, mistake 4 out, jumped steeply next, narrowly headed 2 out, soon ridden and lost 2nd, no extra in 3rd between last 2, 3rd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Portrush Ted (11-12) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Oscar Asche (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Midfield, mistake 2nd and reminder, slow 9th and further reminders, slow 11th, pulled up before 4 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
