always behind
led, headed 2 out, ridden before last, just held on
chased leaders, outpaced before 2 out
with winner, ridden before 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, ridden and every chance run-in, just held
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, no extra
mid-division, pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened
Hint Of Mint was only beaten a head over 2m3f here 12 days ago and will be fancied to go one better, despite a 5lb rise in the weights. But ASCENDANT again showed his liking for a sharp right-handed track at Huntingdon last month and can end his long losing run. Royal Irish Hussar won a Grade 2 back in 2013 but that seems a long time ago now and he’s not the force of old. Man Of Plenty needs a much longer trip but still makes more appeal than an out-of-sorts Regulation and Bernard Llewellyn’s two runners.
Regulation (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Took keen hold, held up in 6th, weakened 3 out, went left and mistake last, last of 7, dist behind Jacks Last Hope (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Hint Of Mint 7-2cfav (11-12) With leader, took keen hold, mistake 6th, led next, not fluent last, soon hard pressed, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 8, hd behind Winning Spark (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gf in Dec.
Royal Irish Hussar (IRE) 2-1fav (11-11) Never fluent, led, clear when not fluent 1st, not fluent 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression when lost 2nd between last 2, lost modest 3rd in closing stages, 4th of 8, 10 1/2l behind Poker School (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ascendant 15-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders on outside, every chance 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied before last, led narrowly towards finish, headed close home, 2nd of 10, shd behind Baby Jake (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Man Of Plenty 66-1 (9-0) Slowly away, always well behind, last of 12, dist behind Cliff Face (9-0) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Borak (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway on inside 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 9, dist behind Applesandpierres (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Global Thrill 6-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, no impression, 5th of 10, 17 1/4l behind Bohernagore (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
