chased leader until 3rd, chased leaders, led 4 out until 2 out, weakened between last 2
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, travelling well before 2 out, every chance 2 out, hit last, weakened into 3rd inside final 100 yards
held up off the pace in 6th, headway on outside when mistake 4 out, no impression before 2 out, plugged on
chased leaders, led on outside 2 out, kept on well from last
soon well in rear, headway approaching 3 out, pushed along before next, kept on into 2nd inside final 100 yards, nearest finish
raced keenly in 5th, good headway chasing leader 3rd, went 2nd next, lost 2nd and mistake 3 out, weakened quickly and hung badly left home turn, pulled up soon after
raced keenly, led until 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
refused to race and took no part
Withdrawn
Fransham is in great form but very much a Wetherby specialist and he was only sixth in this last year when 12lb lower in the weights. Chti Balko has more to do than when putting lesser opposition to the sword at Haydock and he may have preferred more of a stamina test. The prolific Breffniboy, chasing a five-timer and a sixth win in seven starts, and MALAYA (NAP) have been rerouted from yesterday’s abandoned meeting at Taunton. The going was too testing for the Nicholls’ mare in a Grade 3 at Ascot before Christmas but she is very much at home on today’s ground and went close twice last year off this mark.
Chti Balko (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Close up, left in lead 4th, headed narrowly 5th, led after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, ridden before 2 out, pushed well clear before last, comfortably, won at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Llantara (10-0) by 26l, 6 ran.
Fransham 5-2 (11-10) Travelled strongly, prominent after 4 out, led before 3 out, went further clear last, readily, won at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Altruism (11-10) by 6 1/2l, 6 ran.
Malaya (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders out wide, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 17, 17l behind Not So Sleepy (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Millers Bank 40-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, no chance when hampered after 2 out, never on terms, 8th of 9, 13 1/2l behind Floressa (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Breffniboy (FR) 15-2 (10-12) Held up rear of mid-division, headway when slightly hampered last, switched left flat, stayed on well, led towards finish, won going away, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Lively Citizen (10-1) by 2 1/4l, 16 ran.
Timeforaspin 9-4 (11-0) Made all, ridden 2 out, clear when blundered last, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (5) hvy in Nov beating According To Alex (11-0) by 19l, 7 ran.
Manucci (IRE) 11-1 (9-10) Raced keenly, prominent, led over 8f out, edged right over 1f out, stayed on, won at Chelmsford City 1m 5f hcp (5) pol in Oct beating Her Indoors (9-4) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Nordican Bleue (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Led into start, in rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, no impression from last, 4th of 7, 10 1/4l behind Midnights' Gift (11-12) at Fakenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Dream Du Grand Val (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Pulled hard, tracked leading pair, left 2nd at 7th, ridden and lost that placing bypassing 5 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off and pulled up before next, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
