held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, slipped on bend after 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, left disputing 3rd at the 4th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
led until after 1st, led next, stepped at 4th, slithered badly and unseated rider
held up in rear, not fluent 4 out, headway on outside 3 out, 3rd going well 2 out, switched right before last, challenged after, driven and held final 100 yards
mid-division, left disputing 3rd at the 4th went 2nd 8th, led last, ridden and stayed on gamely flat
held up towards rear, some headway after 4 out, no impression, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, left 2nd 4th, led before 6th, hit 4 out, headed last, no extra final 150 yards
led after 1st until 2nd, left in lead 4th, headed before 6th, well beaten from 4 out, tailed off
Jacks Last Hope got back to winning ways at Sedgefield in September and followed up at Wetherby but will need to defy a further 4lb rise to complete the hat-trick. Stratford third Vive Le Roi takes no prisoners but is still 8lb higher than when successful at Newbury around this time last year. Skandiburg was having his first run outside of novice company when only beaten a short-head at Market Rasen on his reappearance and Diomede des Mottes beat Thursday’s Sedgefield winner Len Brennan at Southwell last month before finding 2m3f too short in a Grade 2 novice event at Chepstow. ROSY WORLD was only a neck behind a subsequent winner when third over 2m4f at Plumpton. Suzy Smith’s mare, who loves the mud, has been crying out for a step up to 3m and is still at the right end of the handicap.
Potters Corner (IRE) (10-10) 5th of 9, 29 3/4l behind Blue Dragon (11-2) at Auteuil 2m 2f gs in May.
Jacks Last Hope 13-2 (11-10) Chased leaders on outside, challenged after 4 out, led and mistake next, pressed last, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Victarion (10-11) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Vive Le Roi (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Led, jumped right 2nd, ridden after 2 out, headed just before last, lost 2nd towards finish, no extra, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Boreham Bill (11-5) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Diomede Des Mottes (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Held up behind, headway after 3 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 9, 8l behind Thyme Hill (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f (1) gs in Oct.
Skandiburg (FR) 4-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, led after 2 out, headed just after last, soon rallied, every chance close home, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Honest Vic (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Bialco (FR) 50-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, lost place before 3 out, soon outpaced and behind, weakened after next, 7th of 8, 27 3/4l behind Champagne Well (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) gs in Oct.
Rosy World 2-1fav (10-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, carried right 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, rallied last, stayed on, held close home, 3rd of 6, 1/4l behind Shambra (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
King Golan (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 4th, jumped left next, led 6th, headed 5 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 9, 12 1/4l behind Duke Debarry (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
