midfield, mistake and lost place 5th, switched right and ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, kept on flat
chased leaders, pushed along after 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
midfield when blundered and fell 1st
mid-division, ridden and made headway before 2 out, every chance last, kept on flat
led, headed 2 out, soon ridden for effort, no extra from last
held up in rear, reminder after 5th, soon struggling
raced keenly in midfield, headway to chase leaders going well before 3 out, every chance last, soon ridden, no extra final 100yds
prominent, nudged along 3 out, weakened before next
held up towards rear, smooth headway travelling well before 2 out, ridden before last, faded on run-in
midfield, headway to challenge 3 out, ridden before next where led, headed approaching last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, nudged along before 3 out, ridden 2 out, hung right approaching last, plugged on one pace run-in
held up in rear, headway after 5th, nudged along before 2 out, made no impression approaching last
mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, outpaced before last, plugged on through beaten rivals flat
held up in mid-division, outpaced after 5th, nudged along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on well after last
midfield, not fluent 3 out, pushed along before next, ridden approaching last, ran on well to grab fourth in final strides
prominent, ridden along 3 out, gradually weakened before next
midfield, good headway to chase leaders before 2 out, led going well approaching last, ridden after last, ran on strongly flat
never better than mid-division
always in rear
mid-division, headway to track leaders before 3 out, ridden to challenge last, hung left flat, ran on well but no match for winner
chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, no extra approaching last
mid-division, headway when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden for effort, kept on one pace fron last
midfield, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before last
NonRunner
A maximum field has been declared for this long-established Grade 3 handicap which has often provided Cheltenham pointers. Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls are both well represented with Buzz heading the weights for the former. The grey has never stopped improving and Kevin Brogan’s claim takes care of a further 4lb rise for finishing second in this grade at Ascot. Impressive on his reappearance, MISTER COFFEY pulled too hard on heavy ground on a return visit to Sandown. He can reverse that form with Galice Macalo on this quicker surface and gets another chance to show he is a smart performer. Wild Max may be the pick of the Nicholls’ trio with Angus Cheleda claiming 7lb but For Pleasure had the run of the race when successful in a Grade 2 in November, though the second that day is a useful novice. Milkwood has been much improved this season but the drying ground may not help Shakem Up'Arry or Annual Invictus. Cadzand is still potentially well treated, however, despite beating a subsequent winner at Musselburgh while Soaring Glory was trying to give the much-vaunted Dusart 6lb here in November and makes his handicap debut. Fifty Ball is also worth a second look as he’s on the upgrade and his stable have a terrific record in this contest. Edwardstone won easily back over hurdles at Market Rasen but this is much tougher under a penalty. Friend Or Foe was engaged in the 3.18 at Wincanton yesterday,
Buzz (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear out wide, steady headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders before next, went 2nd final 100 yards, never going pace to reach winner, 2nd of 17, 1 3/4l behind Not So Sleepy (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Gumball (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Led, headed when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, last of 4, 30 1/2l behind Shishkin (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Wild Max (GER) 5-2 (11-11) Midfield, hit 3rd, headway to track leaders approaching 4 out, close up approaching 3 out where left in front, ridden clear approaching last, kept on strongly flat, won at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Twin Star (11-3) by 9 1/2l, 7 ran.
Edwardstone Evensfav (11-12) Tracked leading pair on inside, closer 3 out, brought wide home straight, challenged approaching 2 out, soon led, quickened readily clear run-in, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Rowland Ward (10-12) by 5l, 4 ran.
For Pleasure (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Jumped left, made all, soon well clear, mistake 2 out, reduced lead and 4 lengths ahead last, edged right flat, kept finding, stayed on, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov beating Third Time Lucki (11-0) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Fred (FR) 4-1 (11-1) Raced wide in 3rd place, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd 5th, pushed along when mistake and no chance from 3 out, lost 2nd at the last, weakened into 4th close home, 4th of 6, 21 3/4l behind Allmankind (10-7) at Warwick 2m (3) gd in Nov.
Thyme White (FR) 15-2 (11-5) Pulled hard tracking leaders, hanging left and not much room when blundered 2 out, jinked left and rider fell off soon after, at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Highway One O Two (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along and no headway before 2 out, never on terms, 6th of 9, dist behind Guard Your Dreams (10-9) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Milkwood (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Raced keenly towards rear, struggling when hampered after 2 out, stayed on strongly in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Floressa (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Lightly Squeeze 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division on inside, closed when mistake 6th, not fluent next, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 12, 37l behind Craigneiche (10-6) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Mister Coffey (FR) 6-4fav (11-3) Held up in rear, improved into mid-division after 3 out, went fourth 2 out, took third over last but no extra, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Benson (10-6) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Cadzand (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway going well after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, clear flat, readily, won at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Christopher Wood (11-13) by 3 1/4l, 13 ran.
Shakem Up'arry (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Led, headed before last, readily outpaced by winner run-in, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Metier (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Guard Your Dreams 3-1 (10-9) Chased leader who soon went clear, closer after 3 out, led before next, ridden and joined run-in, driven to assert final 100 yards, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Friend Or Foe (11-8) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Annual Invictus (IRE) 4-7fav (11-12) Made all, pushed along before 2 out, shaken up and in command between last 2, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 2m 5f (3) sft in Jan beating Dorking Lad (11-2) by 6 1/2l, 7 ran.
Galice Macalo (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Pulled hard tracking leader, pushed along and lost 2nd before 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 37 1/4l behind Metier (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Soaring Glory (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Held up, headway travelling strongly on outside after 3 out, ridden before last, kept on flat, 3rd of 6, 6l behind My Drogo (11-0) at Ascot 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Night Edition (FR) 33-1 (10-13) Always rear-division, never a factor, 14th of 17, 33 1/2l behind Not So Sleepy (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Mack The Man (IRE) 10-11fav (11-9) Led briefly, chased winner on inside, challenged last, ridden to lead narrowly final 150 yards, in command and eased towards finish, won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating River Bray (11-12) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Fifty Ball (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Settled in second until taking lead 4th, shaken up after 2 out and went clear, easily, won at Sandown 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Naizagai (10-7) by 13l, 5 ran.
Glory And Fortune (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Jumped right at times, led, went clear 4th, mistake 8th, reduced lead and headed approaching 4 out, weakened quickly, mistakes final 3, last of 4, 14 1/2l behind Elvis Mail (11-10) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
On To Victory 4-5fav (11-5) Held up in touch, ridden to join leader 2 out, led approaching last, ran on under pressure flat, just prevailed, won at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) gs in Jan beating Iron Mike (11-5) by ns, 16 ran.
Ballinsker (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders out wide, pushed along 3f out, weakened quickly, moving poorly soon behind and eased, last of 14, 29 3/4l behind Strong Glance (11-4) at Lingfield 2m (4) pol in Feb.
Friend Or Foe (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Held up off the pace in 4th, closer in 3rd after 3 out, 2nd before next, switched right before last, chance run-in, soon ridden, no extra and held final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Guard Your Dreams (10-9) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
