tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, ridden and lost place after 3 out
held up towards rear, pecked slightly 4th, mistake 7th, struggling next
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway after 3 out, went 3rd last, stayed on same pace
not fluent, always behind
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, ridden before 3 out, lost place well before next
mid-division, not fluent 6th, switched left and challenged 2 out, soon led, went right last, driven flat, stayed on well
in rear, lost touch 8th
held up towards rear, ridden and struggling 8th
held up in touch in mid-division, headway 9th, ridden after 3 out, no extra flat
prominent, ridden 9th, weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, no extra flat
mid-division, ridden and struggling from 9th
held up in rear, headway on outside 9th, mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
led until 3 out, weakened before next
prominent, led 3 out, headed when jumped right and not fluent next, no extra last
held up in touch, challenged 3 out, led approaching next, soon headed, stayed on
Nonrunner
A couple of recent winners will need to improve again now the handicapper has had his say. Water Garden is among them as he's been raised 14lb after a narrow margin victory at Ascot last month, while Thehillofuisneach has a 22lb raise to cope with after a cosy win at Uttoxeter. There was little between Dorset Square and the re-opposing Pettifour when the former scored at Cheltenham in November, though the latter has let the form down since, while Mr Jay Dee is up in class after his win at Huntingdon in November. SAFRAN DE COTTE has every chance on the evidence of a recent victory at Haydock as third-placed Teenage Idol has subsequently won and Henry Daly's charge gets the vote in the likely absence of Lightning Strike. The latter has strong claims after bouncing back to form at Hereford last Sunday but has a preferred entry in the 2.50 at Kempton today.
Pettifour (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, mistake 8th, soon driven, weakened 3 out, 6th of 7, 43l behind Big Buck's (11-7) at Ascot 3m 1f hdl G1 (1) sft in Dec.
Drill Sergeant 25-1 (11-4) Held up, took kene hold, closed after 4th, not fluent 2 out, outpaced when jumped left and mistake last, weakened flat, last of 4, 18l behind Oscar Whisky (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs.
Barwell Bridge 8-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, one pace next, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Deireadh Re (9-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Dorset Square (IRE) 15-2 (10-2) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway after 4 out, challenging when not much room just before last, kept on under pressure to lead close home, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov beating Pettifour (11-0) by hd, 19 ran.
Pause And Clause (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Behind, outpaced 3 out, never near leaders, 10th of 17, 20l behind Knight Pass (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Thehillofuisneach (IRE) 13-8fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway 7th, went 2nd 3 out, challenged on bit 2 out, led flat, very cheekily, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec beating Theologist (11-0) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Mobaasher (USA) 20-1 (11-12) Held up in touch towards rear, ridden after 8th, lost touch going to 4 out, 7th of 8, 26l behind Palace Jester (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
South O'The Border 28-1 (9-7) Held up behind leaders, well there after 3 out, outpaced and no impression after next, 5th of 8, 17l behind Houblon Des Obeaux (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs.
Aachen 5-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 outpushed along and weakened before 2 out, 9th of 12, 30l behind Dais Return (11-1) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Handy Andy (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tended to jump left early, held up in 5th, dropped to rear when not fluent 9th, no danger after, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Silviniaco Conti (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Volador (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear and off the pace, mistake 5th, good headway approaching 9th, tracked leader 4 out, closed to lead 2 out, ridden and headed last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Ameeq (11-4) at Ascot 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr '10.
Safran De Cotte (FR) 13-2 (9-10) Always handy, went 2nd approaching last, led soon after hurdle, stayed on, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec beating Across The Bay (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Water Garden (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Held up in touch, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, every chance 2 out, led last, hard ridden, stayed on well, won at Ascot 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Well Hello There (11-8) by hd, 14 ran.
Mr Jay Dee (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Made all, ridden approaching 2 out, went right last, stayed on gamely, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov beating Switched Off (11-3) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Simonside 7-2fav (11-2) Made all, held on gamely from last, won at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec beating High Ransom (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Ely Brown (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Raced keenly, in touch when mistake and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Bellflower Boy (11-0) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
El Dancer (GER) 13-8fav (11-0) Tracked leading pair, effort 3 out to next, soon ridden and one pace, no impression approaching lasst, 3rd of 5, 5l behind Empress Orchid (10-4) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (5) sft in Dec.
Lightning Strike (GER) 13-2 (11-12) Held up in touch on outside, led approaching 3 out, clear from next, easily, won at Hereford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft beating Triptico (11-3) by 10l, 8 ran.
