held up towards rear and keen, headway on outer over 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace from last
tracked leader, pushed along over 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
led, clear over 3 out, headed after last, no extra and lost 2 places flat
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out
always behind, struggling from 4th, tailed off
held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon outpaced, kept on from 3 out, no impression
held up in touch, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden before last, led soon after, kept on well
held up mid-division, pushed along over 4 out and towards rear, headway 3 out, stayed on strongly to chase winner flat, nearest at finish
tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out
held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
Most of these have some sort of chance with the vote afforded to SLAM, very lightly-raced in recent seasons and far from disgraced behind Mangonel at Kempton last time after an absence of over a year. He remains open to improvement and looks on a very feasible mark. Finellas Fortune has a consistent record in bumpers and hurdles without actually winning and should be on the premises once again, while Catawollow is definite short-list material if repeating the improved form shown when scoring neatly at Leicester last time. However, a 7lb penalty may hinder his chances while Amazing Star needs to put a recent disappointment behind him having previously scored with authority from subsequent winner Bob's Dream at Uttoxeter.
Morocchius (USA) 6-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, left in lead just before 1st, mistake 6th, headed 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, 22l behind Goodwood Starlight (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Finellas Fortune 3-1 (10-12) Led, headed after 4th, led again 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 10, 22l behind Cue To Cue (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Capricornus (USA) 25-1 (11-9) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, ridden 6th, well held 3 out, went 4th latter stages, 4th of 10, 27l behind Parc Des Princes (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Missionaire (USA) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, chased leaders in 3rd before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 7, 26l behind Mangonel (10-7) at Kempton 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Nov.
Amazing Star (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway on outside 5th, went 2nd next, mistake 6th, closed 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 10, 36l behind Parc Des Princes (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Catawollow 8-1 (10-12) Held up, steady headway 2 out, challenged last, ridden to lead flat, stayed on, won at Leicester 2m Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (4yo+) (5) gd in Nov beating Just Beware (10-7) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Tinseltown 7-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, jumped left 2nd, mistake next, headway and hung left approaching last, never dangerous, 7th of 14, 21l behind Funky Munky (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Slam 11-4 (11-0) Held up in touch and keen, headway after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Mangonel (10-7) at Kempton 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Nov.
Arrow Barrow (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Prominent, led 3rd until approaching 3 out, no extra last, 4th of 14, 14l behind Funky Munky (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Hartforth 2-1fav (10-7) Tracked winner, jumped slow and left and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Blazing Buck (11-9) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov, 5 ran.
Blake Dean 66-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led after 3rd, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, not fluent last, 5th of 11, 14l behind School For Scandal (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Youm Jamil (USA) 9-1 (10-0) Held up, headway 4th, close up 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Amuse Me (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs.
