close up, tracked leaders 6th, pecked on landing 8th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
led 2nd, not fluent 9th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on one pace
in touch in rear, headway 5 out, led 2 out, ridden clear next, eased towards finish
led, headed 2nd, tracked leader until ridden 4 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up approaching last
raced wide, tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place 4 out, rallied approaching last, ran on
in touch, pushed along 6th, lost place 11th, behind when pulled up 4 out
Veteran Tiquer showed his rivals a clear pair of heels at Southwell last month but this looks a much tougher assignment. THE UNIT can’t get much lower in the weights and seems to retain some ability so can end a long losing run as long as the ground doesn’t deteriorate further. Sir Jack Yeats is another starting to look well handicapped and he is a previous course winner along with Not A Role Model, Admiral Barratry and Defuture Is Bright. Luckofthedraw made a bold bid to complete the hat-trick at Newcastle but was eventually beaten more than six lengths and is 2lb higher now.
Not A Role Model (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Raced handy, prominent in main group, headway 3 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on but never getting to winner, 2nd of 12, 4l behind When You're Ready (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Luckofthedraw (FR) 11-4 (12-1) Led into start, led after 1st, clear before 3rd until before 8th, not fluent and headed 3 out, well held by winner from next, 2nd of 10, 6 1/2l behind Scene Not Herd (11-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Admiral Barratry (FR) 18-1 (11-8) Keen held up towards rear, ridden 5 out, never on terms, 7th of 9, 36 3/4l behind Saint Palais (10-10) at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Sir Jack Yeats (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Led until blundered 12th but quickly left in lead, headed after 3 out, weakening quickly in 7th at the last, 9th of 13, dist behind Mac Tottie (11-1) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Tiquer (FR) 25-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 4 out, shaken up after 3 out and went clear, stayed on well, unchallenged home straight, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Bardd (10-4) by 9l, 6 ran.
Defuture Is Bright (IRE) 5-2fav (10-2) Led, jumped left throughout, headed but remained prominent 11th, pushed along home turn, left behind by front pair before 3 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 14 1/2l behind Jersey Bean (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
The Unit (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) In rear, headway and every chance 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 15 3/4l behind Gortroe Joe (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
