with leaders, led 3rd, strongly pressed and hit last, narrowly headed rallied gamely to lead again towards finish
held up in rear, headway on inside before 3 out, weakened tamely approaching next
mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, outpaced before next, rallied between last 2, ridden and ran on well towards finish, just missed 2nd
chased leaders until weakened rapidly soon after 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway on outside before 2 out, weakened between last 2
chased leaders, pushed along and went 2nd 2 out until the last, ridden and ran on towards finish, went 2nd again last strides
raced keenly, held up towards rear, steady headway on inside approaching 2 out, soon chasing leaders, went close 2nd at the last, ridden to lead narrowly run-in, headed and lost 2 places close home
chased leaders, left in 2nd place 5th, mistake and lost 2nd 3 out, chased leaders, chance next, soon ridden, weakened final 110 yards
raced keenly, chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out until next, chased leaders, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders 6th, pushed along approaching 3 out, weakened rapidly soon after it, tailed off
led until 3rd, chased leader, stumbled 5th, pulled up quickly soon after
mid-division, hit 3rd, pushed along and losing place when hampered before 2 out
pushed along after 4 out, always towards rear
A very tricky start for punters but Paul Nicholls’ stable can do little wrong at present and, having had eight winners last Saturday, could get off to a flying start again with RHYTHM IS A DANCER. Suited by sharp, right-handed tracks, he couldn’t cope with a 9lb rise at Wincanton no Boxing Day but is 3lb lower here and could easily bounce back being lightly-raced. Deebaj looks a threat from the foot of the weights and Burrows Edge’s lack of a recent run is not off-putting as he looked a progressive hurdler last spring. Potterman probably has each-way claims but this trip looks too short for the potentially well-handicapped Call To Order and the handicapper may have finally reeled in Erick Le Rouge. Not That Fuisse warrants a mention, however, having chased home Al Dancer at Cheltenham before returning to winning ways at Taunton.
Erick Le Rouge (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Close up, led after 6th, ridden 2 out, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Mellow Ben (10-11) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
And The New (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leader, led 4th, hit next and 6th, pressed 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, dist behind Big Time Dancer (11-1) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Canyon City 16-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, bumped 4 out, pushed along and weakened on long run before 2 out, tailed off, 10th of 14, dist behind Big Time Dancer (11-1) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Rocco (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Led until 2nd, tracked leader until 6th, outpaced after 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, 21 3/4l behind Jarveys Plate (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Jan.
Champagne Champ 10-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, every chance 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Dalileo (9-5) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Burrows Edge (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, pushed along before 3 out, headway on wide outside 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure run-in, went never nearer 6th post, 6th of 20, 6l behind Ballymoy (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Not That Fuisse (FR) 13-8fav (10-12) Tracked leading pair and travelled well, switched left before 2 out, led approaching last, soon joined, ran on to assert last 100 yards, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Style De Garde (11-11) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Potterman 5-2 (11-10) Held up, not fluent 4th or 7th, outpaced from 3 out, well beaten next, 5th of 6, 21 3/4l behind Big Time Dancer (10-11) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gf in Dec.
Lisdoonvarna Lad (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 10th, ridden 4 out, weakened next, slow 2 out, well held in 3rd when fell last, at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Call To Order 8-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, led 5th, headed 8th, led 4 out, headed 3 out, 4th and weakening last, 5th of 9, 8l behind Muthabir (10-8) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Rhythm Is A Dancer 11-2 (10-0) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, brief rally before 2 out, soon beaten, 5th of 11, 25 1/4l behind Padleyourowncanoe (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Klare Castle 6-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakening 6th when not fluent 3 out, 8th of 16, dist behind Samburu Shujaa (11-6) at Chepstow 3m mdn (4) gs in Jan.
Deebaj (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 8th and pushed along, headway before 3 out, close 3rd when mistake last, stayed on, 3rd of 13, nk behind Lord Getaway (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
