waited with in rear, some headway before 3 out, never on terms
tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd between last 2, produced to lead last, kept on well run-in
led at start, held up in last trio, never on terms
chased leaders and pushed along at times, reminders after 4 out, every chance 2 out, ridden and stayed on into modest 3rd run-in
chased leader, lost 2nd briefly before the last, 2nd again and every chance last, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in
led, ridden between last 2, headed last, weakened run-in
mid-division on outside, reminders after 4 out, weakened next
mid-division, closer on inside before 3 out, weakened next
always behind, never a factor
Smarty Wild was never travelling on his reappearance at Cheltenham and finished tailed off but had rattled up a hat-trick at the start of the year, including one victory over track and trip. Searching won here last month and later at Hereford but looked in the handicapper’s grip at Wincanton. Haldon Hill goes well fresh and has had wind surgery since last seen but John Constable is on a long losing run and not the force of old. Considering he is still a maiden, NORDIC COMBINED ran a cracker against top-class handicappers at Ascot 11 days ago. If that hasn’t taken too much out of him, he should be opening his account in this raised only a pound.
John Constable (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, driven 3 out, soon lost place, 9th of 15, 13 1/2l behind Grapevine (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Jul.
Smarty Wild 7-1 (11-5) Mid-division on inside, lost place 4 out, behind from next, tailed off, 16th of 17, dist behind Duke Street (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Peruvien Bleu (FR) 16-1 (11-11) Keen early, held up towards rear, outpaced after 3 out, ridden after next, never reached leaders, weakened after last, 6th of 8, 17 1/4l behind Cubswin (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Nordic Combined (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Held up in touch, pushed along after 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on flat, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Gumball (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Manvers House 4-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 3 out, headed before next, no extra last, 6th of 11, 15 1/2l behind Trevelyn's Corn (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Mar.
Haldon Hill (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Off the pace disputing 4th, outright 4th after 4 out, closer in 3rd approaching 3 out, went right 2 out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 10, 24 1/2l behind Dolphin Square (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Mount Rushmoore (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Last pair, lost action and pulled up before 5th, at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Searching (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) In touch, headway before 7th, every chance 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 17, 7 1/2l behind I'd Better Go Now (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Sirop De Menthe (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, always behind, lost touch 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, 29 1/2l behind Harefield (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
