keen towards rear, ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out
chased leader, upsides 3 out, led when not fluent 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on flat, headed close home
towards rear, awkward 4th, behind when ridden 3 out, no extra
held up in rear, ridden before 3 out, no impression
led, narrow advantage 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, faded from last
midfield, ridden before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
held up in touch, ridden before 2 out, close up last, stayed on strongly to lead close home, just prevailed
always in rear, ridden before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, took closer order before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace from before last
Finisk River has been rested since disappointing at Musselburgh in December but has been racing over longer trips and has become hard to place. The drop back in distance might suit Hurricane Ali, however, though he is not as progressive as BYZANTINE EMPIRE. The top weight won a shade cosily here in December and didn’t really get the run of the race when fourth at Cheltenham five weeks ago. He can race off a 5lb lower mark back here if taking into account Liam Harrison’s claim. Universal Folly is still 10lb higher than when scoring at Carlisle in the autumn but Conor Rabbitt’s allowance accounts for all of that and Mongol Emperor is worth a market check after a pipe-opener at Fontwell. Maninsane looks the pick of the remainder.
Byzantine Empire 6-1 (10-12) Held up in md-division, pushed along and headway chasing leaders before the last, ridden edged left and kept on run-in, never going pace of leading trio, 4th of 12, 5l behind Cormier (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Mongol Emperor (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, in touch after 3 out, switched right before 2 out, soon ridden and beaten, looked awkward before last, went 4th flat, 4th of 7, 12 1/4l behind Small Bad Bob (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Faro (FR) (10-8) Tracked leaders, headway to lead halfway, mistake 2 out, faded, last of 7, 36 1/2l behind Alna Top (10-3) at Dax 2m 1f hvy in Oct.
Finisk River 7-2 (12-0) In touch, headway to track leaders 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 10, 31 1/4l behind Diamond State (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Chanceux (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Led until before 3 out, lost 2nd 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up quickly before next, at Newbury 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Maninsane (IRE) 7-2 (12-2) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along and outpaced turning in, 6th of 9, 20 3/4l behind Black Poppy (11-7) at Hereford 2m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Universal Folly 4-1 (11-12) Tracked winner until before 3rd, went 2nd again briefly 4 out, pushed along in 3rd before next, weakened soon after, went remote 3rd close home, 3rd of 5, 6 1/2l behind Cellar Vie (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Jack's A Legend 66-1 (11-7) Always in rear, well beaten from after 2 out, last of 7, dist behind Hillcrest (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Jan.
Green Planet (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next, 9th of 12, dist behind Current Mood (11-5) at Chepstow 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Hurricane Ali (IRE) 7-2fav (10-7) Held up, ridden and outpaced 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, 6th of 10, 24 1/4l behind Red Risk (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
