tracked leaders on inside, left in lead briefly 3rd, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead before last, edged right flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, hampered 1st, left 2nd from 3rd, led 3 out, headed next, mistake last, stayed on same pace flat
hampered and unseated rider 1st
handy when edged right and hampered 1st, held up after, weakened after 3 out
held up, hampered 1st, not fluent and weakened 3 out
mid-division, hampered 1st, headway 3rd, stayed on same pace from 2 out
held up in rear, some headway after 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, hampered 1st, went left 4th, some headway next, weakened after 3 out
led, went left and unseated rider 3rd
tracked leader, hampered 3rd, soon led, headed 3 out, led next, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat
handy when bumped, veered right and very awkward 1st, towards rear after, closed 4th, weakened after 3 out
Jockey bookings would suggest bumper winner Scorpio Queen is preferred to stablemate Swoop To Conquer, though the later should enjoy this stiff track. Azzerti was only beaten two lengths by a decent sort at Fontwell in October but was made to look one-paced when only third later at Sandown. LOUIS’ VAC POUCH took a major step forward when fourth last time at Taunton and any further progress should see him in the firing-line, though Lucy Wadham’s mare Phoeniciana has also shown ability and Count Meribel was just touched off in a bumper on his reappearance.
Azzerti (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Edgy and sweating, tracked leading pair, disputing 2nd from 3rd, every chance 2 out, ridden and found little between last 2, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 4, 5 3/4l behind Khezerabad (11-0) at Sandown 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Count Meribel 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden and every chance over 1f out, went 2nd towards finish and closed, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind The Mighty Don (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 2f (6) gd in Nov.
Dennis Our Menace 40-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, last of 12, dist behind Way Back Then (11-0) at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Mexican Jim 100-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, well beaten over 3f out, 11th of 14, 34 3/4l behind Smartie Artie (10-0) at Windsor 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gd in Jul.
Orions Gold 50-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, mid-division, headway after 4th, not fluent 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Leicester 2m 4f (4) gd in Dec.
Putting Green 14-1 (10-8) Not always fluent in rear, weakened 2 out, went 4th before last, 4th of 6, 29l behind Egypt Mill Rebel (10-12) at Stratford 2m (4) gd in May.
Scartare (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) In rear, pushed along and weakened from 5 out, 5th of 8, dist behind Bonne Question (11-0) at Southwell 2m mdn (5) sft in May.
Swoop To Conquer (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, stayed on steadily from before 2 out, no chance with leaders, 6th of 16, 20 1/4l behind Glaring (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Eloped 14-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 14th of 19, 25 1/4l behind Irish Roe (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Phoeniciana 17-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, every chance after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Sister Sibyl (10-12) at Towcester 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Scorpio Queen (IRE) 5-4fav (10-10) Mid-division, closed form 7f out, challenged 1f out, ran on to lead close home, won at Southwell 2m (6) gd in May beating Biscuit (11-0) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Louis' Vac Pouch (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division on inside, headway approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure into 4th run-in, 4th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Misterton (10-12) at Taunton 2m (4) gd in Nov.
