mid-division, towards rear when badly hampered 2 out, soon weakened
led, headed narrowly 3 out, close up when fell heavily next
tracked leaders, not much room on inside after 2 out, soon went 2nd, led approaching last, ridden out
tracked leaders, outpaced when not much room after 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leader to after 4th, in touch until lost place before 2 out, soon weakened
held up behind in touch, headway on outside 3 out, led after next, headed on long run between last 2, no impression with front pair when blundered and lost 3rd last
mid-division, headway to join leader after 4th, led 3 out, headed after next, soon weakened
tracked leaders, driven after 2 out, kept on same pace, went 3rd last, no impression with front pair
held up behind in touch, headway 3 out, led on long run between last 2, headed approaching last, kept on same pace
Nonrunner
Laser Blazer was far from disgraced when bidding for a hat-trick in a Listed handicap at Ascot in November but he hasn't raced since. Hallings Comet has a similar absence to overcome while Fatcatinthehat and Bombadero have been off the track for 575 and 531 days respectively. Such A Legend and Oyster Shell are better known as chasers but Lanceur is interesting having run away with a Huntingdon maiden at the start of the month and the four-year-old Maxie T must have some sort of chance. STREET ENTERTAINER will have needed his run behind stablemate Purple 'n Gold at Haydock. He only won a seller here in October but showed he was much better than that at Cheltenham in November and looks the pick of the weights in this.
Laser Blazer 8-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, hit 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, no extra between last two, 5th of 11, 11l behind Sign Of A Victory (10-12) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Nov.
Fatcatinthehat 8-15fav (11-7) Keen hold, led and clear at stages, came off the rail and joined from before 3 out, went badly left and headed next, struggling and bad mistake last, kept on same pace run-in to hold on to 2nd close home, 2nd of 4, 8l behind Bob Le Beau (11-9) at Down Royal 2m hdl gf in Aug '13.
Oyster Shell 6-1 (11-3) Reluctant to line up, reared and left at start, hit 1st, always detatched in rear, went remote 5th 3 out, 5th of 8, 31l behind Gardefort (10-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Such A Legend 14-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, held up in mid-division on inside, headway on inner before 3 out, chased leaders before 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2, 11th of 17, 27l behind Theinval (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd.
Street Entertainer (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Always behind, 9th of 11, 32l behind Purple 'n Gold (10-2) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs.
Lanceur (FR) 11-8fav (11-1) Took keen hold in touch, smooth headway to lead after 3 out, driven clear last, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) sft beating Perfect Summer (10-8) by 7l, 9 ran.
Isaac Bell (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 8th, headed before next, tracked leader, ridden and hit 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 37l behind Minstrels Gallery (11-9) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Maxie T 25-1 (10-12) Led until 3rd, chased leader until 3 out, soon pushed along, outpaced before next, 3rd of 4, 26l behind Top Notch (11-8) at Ascot 2m 4yo hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Bombadero (IRE) 11-10fav (10-11) Chased leader who was soon clear, not fluent 2nd, closed 4th, led 2 out, clear when mistake last, easily, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct '13 beating Escort'men (10-6) by 9l, 7 ran.
Hallings Comet 10-1 (11-4) Led, headed before 4 out, blundered and unseated 4 out, in a race won by Solar Impulse (10-11) at Wetherby 2m nov hcap ch (3) gd in Nov, 6 ran.
