led, hard driven after 2 out, headed after last, no extra closing stages
held up in rear, smooth headway after 3 out, mistake last, led closing stages, stayed on well
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, hit 3 out, ridden to challenge next, mistake last, kept on well closing stages
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, never on terms
prominent, hung badly left until pulled up before 4th
chased leaders, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
Castafiore and Aislabie beat subsequent winners when scoring on their latest starts at Ludlow and Wetherby respectively and both go handicapping for the first time here. Master Of Finance also makes his handicap debut having won a maiden hurdle back in October and struggling in a Grade 2 event last time. Top of The Glas has been beaten off today’s mark since landing a double in September and CAIUS MARCIUS has to be forgiven a bit of careless jumping at Musselburgh last time when unseating. But he was still travelling well at the time and gets the vote on his earlier placed efforts.
Sakhee's City (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, keen early, closed after 7th, weakened and carried head high 2 out, 7th of 10, 18l behind Bennys King (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Dream Berry (FR) 25-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, effort on inside off home bend, no impression and soon weakened, 6th of 14, 10 3/4l behind William H Bonney (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Top of The Glas (IRE) 14-1 (8-7) Tracked leading pair, pushed along over 4f out, chased leaders, outpaced 2f out, plugged on inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 6l behind Natural Scenery (8-10) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Jan.
Master Of Finance (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) In rear, headway 4th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 7, 36l behind Neon Wolf (11-8) at Haydock 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Caius Marcius (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 3 out, at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
No Win No Fee 7-4fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, 2nd before 3 out, ridden before next, soon beaten, 6th of 8, 23 1/2l behind Claude Carter (11-0) at Perth 2m (4) gs in Sep.
Castafiore (USA) 4-5fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led next, pushed clear run-in, won at Ludlow 2m fll (4) sft in Jan beating Deauville Crystal (10-12) by 6l, 10 ran.
Aislabie (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged before last, led run-in, kept on, won at Wetherby 2m (4) gs in Dec beating Dinsdale (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
