held up mid-division, hit 5th, weakened next, tailed off
held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, headway 3 out, plugged on from next, no impression
prominent, ridden in 3rd before 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out
with leaders, led after 4 out, not fluent and jumped slightly left 2 out, kept on well
mid-division, pushed along and lost place from 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up after 4 out
led, headed after 4 out, blundered 3 out, no extra when lost 2nd place flat
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, outpaced from 4 out, plugged on from 3 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
with leaders on outer, hit 1st, hit 4th, quickly weakened after 4 out, soon eased, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, in 5th approaching 3 out, chased leading pair before last, went 2nd flat, kept on, no impression on winner
held up mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, plugged on from 3 out, no impression
in touch, weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, hit 4th, headway 4 out, ridden before next, weakened soon after
It's difficult to know what to make of French import Premier Grand Cru but there are possibilities about the enigmatic Drill Sergeant and this flat track suits versatile performer Leslingtaylor. Ultimate didn't respond to waiting tactics at Sandown last time and could feature here if allowed to bowl along in front, though Brian Ellison's charge has a bit to find with Kudu Country on the form book. Hunterview is 3lb higher than when third to Salden Licht at Exeter last month but can't be ignored, though the best handicapped horse in the race is arguably EUROPEAN DREAM. Winner of this race in 2009 off a 2lb higher mark, he was a lot higher in the weights when only seventh 12 months ago and will have been sharpened up by a recent run on the Polytrack. Caravel is capable of running well fresh and looks best of the rest ahead of the lightly-weighted Cunning Clarets.
Premier Grand Cru (FR) (10-5) won at Pau(FR) 2m 1f hdl sft in Dec '09 beating Maxdelas (10-1) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, prominent, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 18l behind Palomar (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (5yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Caravel (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division when hampered and brought down 4 out, in a race won by Nearby (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct, 16 ran.
Hunterview 8-1 (10-8) Led, ridden and hit 3 out, joined next, already headed when went left last, no chance with winner when lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Salden Licht (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Bocamix (FR) 100-1 (11-7) Mistake 1st, chased leaders on inside, lost place 4 out, soon no chance with leaders, tailed off from next, 5th of 6, well behind Binocular (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Jan.
Ultimate 11-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, soon no impression, 7th of 12, 19l behind Mille Chief (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) hvy in Jan.
Los Nadis (GER) 10-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, ridden 2 out, kept on, no impression, 5th of 12, 24l behind Inventor (11-5) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl (2) gf in Jun.
Toshi (USA) 25-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway on inside approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 10th of 13, 38l behind Diklers Oscar (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Kudu Country (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd briefly approaching 2 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, no extra, 4th of 12, 14l behind Mille Chief (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) hvy in Jan.
European Dream (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Held up in rear, effort and no headway from 3 out, 5th of 10, 15l behind Nine Stories (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Bureaucrat 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, 6th of 12, 40l behind I've Been Framed (11-9) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Beidh Tine Anseo (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Chased leader, led 2nd until headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 13th of 19, 39l behind Devil To Pay (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Cunning Clarets (IRE) 9-2fav (10-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, some headway before 2 out, soon beaten, tailed off, 10th of 16, 34l behind Art Professor (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Orsippus (USA) 50-1 (11-0) In rear, ridden after 4 out, modest headway from 2 out, never on terms, 7th of 17, 26l behind Menorah (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Drill Sergeant 14-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders on inside, effort and every chance when mistake 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before last, 8th of 19, 19l behind James De Vassy (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
