held up, short-lived effort on outside chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden and beaten before next
tracked leaders, effort between horses in 3rd and every chance 3 out, hung left and one pace next, kept on run-in pressing for 2nd, no chance with winner
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, weakened soon after
raced keenly, held up in touch, fell 3rd
slight lead until 5th, with winner, led again narrowly 4 out until next, chased winner, chance 2 out, ridden before last, no extra run-in
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, plugged on run-in
chased leaders, weakened last
held up in last pair, headway approaching 2 out, plugged on
held up, brought down 3rd
pulled very hard, settled towards rear 2nd, jumped big and hampered next, some headway and hung left before 2 out, soon beaten
with leader, led 5th until 4 out, in front again next, ridden between last 2, good jump to assert last, came clear run-in
El Kaldoun has been disappointing over hurdles so far and it’s not certain a longer trip will be a plus. Methag has come good following a break and can be competitive again, despite a further 2lb rise. Floating Rock wasn’t stopping when second at Taunton and there should be more to come while the form of Fort Denison’s second at Plumpton has been franked. FIBONACCI never figured over 2m last season but has run a couple of fair races on the Flat earlier this year and this step up in distance should be just what’s required. An opening handicap mark of 107 could be very lenient.
Talktomenow 7-2 (11-0) Raced keenly in last pair, hit 4 out, closer in 4th before next, weakening when mistake 2 out, 4th of 6, 21 3/4l behind Fortified Bay (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f mdn (5) gd in May.
Floating Rock (GER) 7-2 (10-12) Prominent, slightly outpaced after 3 out, rallied 2 out, stayed on, unable to challenge winner, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Who Shot Jr (10-12) at Taunton 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Fort Denison (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, mistake next and 4 out, every chance when not fluent 2 out, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Go Whatever (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) sft in Nov.
Over Stated (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, 3rd before 2 out, no chance with winner, mistake last, 3rd of 15, 18l behind Emmas Joy (10-5) at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Nov.
El Kaldoun (FR) 3-1fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, steady headway on outside approaching 2 out, 5th and weakening when mistake last, 5th of 13, 7 1/2l behind Golden Taipan (11-8) at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Aloomomo (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, close up when blundered badly and dropped towards rear 4 out, not recover, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Ocean Cove (11-2) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Meteorite 4-1 (10-13) In touch, headway to lead after 4 out, headed before next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 6, 15 1/2l behind Never Equalled (10-8) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Cathal's Star 7-2 (10-12) Prominent, driven before 2 out, went 2nd before last, ridden and kept on flat, never reached winner, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Big Time Dancer (10-12) at Hexham 2m mdn (5) gd in Jun.
Ah Well (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, effort before 2 out, kept on and no impression, 3rd of 8, 26 3/4l behind Finawn Bawn (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 5f (4) gs in Mar.
Fibonacci 6-1 (9-7) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no chance with clear pair final furlong, 3rd of 5, 9 3/4l behind Jedhi (9-6) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (4) gs in May.
Methag (FR) 13-8fav (11-13) Held up, headway after 3 out, led next, soon hard pressed, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 14, nk behind True Thoughts (10-3) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
