close up, ridden to chase winner 3 out, kept on one pace
towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden next, kept on one pace
made all, ridden when not fluent last, ran on
keen held up, not fluent and lost place 4 out, pulled up next
tracked winner until ridden approaching 3 out, plugged on
in touch, ridden 3 out, no impression
not fluent, soon behind, pulled up 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
taken to post early, in touch, ridden and headway 3 out, kept on same pace
close up, pushed along 5th, weakened next
tracked leaders, effort 4 out, ridden and lost place next
held up, ridden 4 out, not fluent and weakened next
Both Whitlock and Mayne were lightly raced on the Flat. The former ended up with a handicap mark of 87 so would be very interesting if transferring that ability to hurdles after a lengthy absence. Olly Murphy uses a 7lb claimer to reduce dual winner Grey Spirit’s burden and he’s employed Harry Cobden to ride African Dance but AJERO, closely related to the smart Charbel, will surely go close if settling a little better than at Huntingdon, where he was beaten under a length by an improver. Guildhall wasn’t disgraced at Sedgefield and this Flat winner is another capable of better.
Grey Spirit (IRE) 4-5fav (11-4) Made all, not always fluent, clear 2 out, unchallenged, won at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Sep beating Eyren (10-5) by 9l, 10 ran.
African Dance (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Chased leaders, every chance over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 3rd of 8, 7 1/2l behind Martello Sky (10-1) at Fakenham 2m mdn (5) sft in Feb.
Ajero (IRE) 15-8 (10-12) Pulled hard, mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway when carried left 3 out, went 2nd before not fluent last, hung right flat, held and switched left towards finish, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Leroy Leroy (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Sep.
Champagne Power (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up, not fluent 1st, mistake 5th, pulled up before 4 out, at Warwick 2m 5f (4) gd in Sep.
Guildhall 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, hit 3 out, went 2nd next, ridden between last 2, lost 2nd at the last, weakened run-in, 5th of 12, 7 3/4l behind Stormin Norman (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Jaunty Viking 11-1 (11-2) Led until before 2 out where not fluent, no extra last, 5th of 10, 22l behind Proton (10-7) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Jovial Spirit (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Led, headed over 4f out, soon headed, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 10, dist behind Faivoir (11-3) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (5) sft in Feb.
Mandalayan (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up before last, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gd in Sep.
Mayne (IRE) 5-2 (9-1) Led, keen, headed entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Invictus Spirit (9-1) at Chester 1m 2f stks (4) gd in Sep.
On The Platform (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Midfield, headway to chase leaders halfway, led narrowly before home turn, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 3rd of 8, 17l behind Red Maple (11-2) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (5) sft in Sep.
San Agustin (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Midfield, not fluent 4th, ridden after 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 10, 29 1/4l behind Guard Your Dreams (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Sep.
Whitlock 9-2 (9-2) Held up towards rear, wide and headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd final strides, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Collide (9-2) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Jenny Ren 150-1 (10-12) Rear of mid-division, ridden in 7th after 3 out, weakened well before next, tailed off, 7th of 11, dist behind Perfect Myth (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) gd in Sep.
Clondaw Tonic (IRE) 125-1 (11-5) Mid-division, outpaced 5th and soon detached, tailed off 2 out and never involved, 10th of 12, dist behind Benson (11-5) at Hereford 2m mdn (4) gf in Oct.
