with leader, led before 4th, headed approaching 9th, left in lead 4 out, driven out flat
towards rear, hampered 4 out, headway when blundered next, no impression 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake and not much room 3 out, closed next, tracking leaders when brought down 4 out
chased leaders on outside, every chance when brought down 4 out
rear of mid-division, pushed along after 8th, well beaten after 12th, badly hampered 4 out, soon pulled up
held up in rear, headway on outside after 12th, hampered 4 out, 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner and lost 2nd flat
chased leaders on inside, mistake 10th, reminder 12th, hampered and left 2nd 4 out, one pace 3rd 2 out, went 2nd and stayed on flat, unable to trouble winner
took keen hold, led until 4th, led before 9th, narrow lead when fell 4 out
chased leaders, outpaced when not fluent 12th, hampered and left closer 4 out, still chance when mistake 3 out, no impression from next
in rear, struggling from 11th, well behind when hampered and unseated rider 4 out
Oldgrangewood made a winning start over fences at Kempton and has bags of scope. It would no surprise if he followed up here, despite a 10lb higher mark. Cusheen Bridge won over a similar trip at Market Rasen last month but Call Me Vic was beaten when falling at Bangor. Cernunnos is back over his best trip but may need to drop a few more pounds before picking up the winning thread again and course and distance winner Baileys Concerto has become disappointing. Formidableopponent's winning run came to end at Musselburgh last time and he now looks in the handicapper's grip while Somchine has his first run since June. THE FRESH PRINCE weakened quickly after making the running on his reappearance at Stratford but wasn't unduly punished and should leave that run well behind. He might be some value here given he's already won a point-to-point and a hurdle.
Call Me Vic (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 4 out, held in 6th when fell 2 out, at Bangor 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Cusheen Bridge (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, left in 2nd approaching 4 out, ridden to challenge on outside 2 out, driven and edged right between last two, stayed on under pressure to lead final 100 yards, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Palm Grey (10-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Oldgrangewood 2-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, led before 4 out, ridden clear approaching last, easily, won at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Hahnenkam (10-10) by 16l, 4 ran.
Monbeg River (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Held up in touch, tracked leaders after 4 out, hit next, one pace when not fluent 2 out, ridden and no impression from last, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Un Beau Roman (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Cernunnos (FR) 9-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, headway to challenges before 2 out, ridden before last and switched right, weakened run-in, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Gentleman Jon (11-6) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Somchine 4-1 (11-12) Held up, headway to chase winner 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 8l behind One For The Boss (11-0) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jun.
Baileys Concerto (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Tracked leader until before 6th, not fluent 10th, weakened after 12th, 5th of 9, 32 3/4l behind Thomas Brown (10-13) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
The Fresh Prince (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 6th, headed after 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 18l behind Smoking Jacket (10-8) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Ballycoe 7-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 10th, chased leaders 5 out, under pressure 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 12l behind Mumgos Debut (10-3) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Formidableopponent (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Chased leaders on inside, 2nd before 7th, led 13th, headed 4 out, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Blue Kascade (11-0) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
