in rear, slow 4th, headway off pace 2 out, could not go pace of leaders, kept on same pace from last
held up, headway home turn, ridden and outpaced 2 out, never in contention
held up, ridden to make headway tracking leader 2 out, could not go pace of leader last, kept on well flat, never getting to winner
chased leaders, keen early, headway going well to lead 2 out, kept on well from last, always holding 2nd
prominent, not fluent throughout, pushed along and weakened home turn, tailed off
chased leaders, headway on outside home turn, ridden and outpaced 2 out, weakened thereafter
led, ridden and headed home turn, fell when losing touch 2 out
Sofia's Rock has plenty to prove having hung badly and raced keenly on his reappearance at Doncaster, though he has slipped to a decent mark. BRIEF TIMES is 2-2 over hurdles and can extend his winning sequence racing in his first handicap ahead of fellow handicap debutant Earth Company, who had the race run to suit when scoring at Taunton. The maiden Kalyptra has changed stables so Oakley looks the pick of the remainder ahead of Small Bad Bob.
Oakley (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Tracked leader, disputed the lead after the 4th, led briefly after 2 out, shaken up and pressed run to the last, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened after the last, 6th of 8, 29 1/2l behind Hooper (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Sofia's Rock (FR) 16-1 (11-11) Led and soon 12 lengths clear, reduced lead bend approaching 3 out, soon headed, soon weakened, pulled up approaching last, at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Brief Times (IRE) 2-5fav (11-5) Made all, ridden and ran on, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov beating Global Famenglory (10-5) by 3l, 7 ran.
Earth Company (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Taunton 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Gala De Corton (10-12) by 7 1/2l, 7 ran.
Park Paddocks (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Prominent, on terms before 4th, narrow leader from next, pressed from before straight and soon joined, headed from 3 out, weakened after and 6th when fell last, at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Small Bad Bob (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Led until 2 out, lost 2nd soon after, chased leaders, weakened between last two, 10th of 11, 28 1/4l behind Gowel Road (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Kalyptra (FR) 22-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, chased leaders, took closer order 4th, close up 3 out, lost place and weakened quickly 2 out, 17th of 18, 22 3/4l behind Mc Alpine (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
