led, headed 3 out and soon weakened
mid-division, headway 3 out, chased winner approaching next, ridden run-in, stayed on, always held
towards rear, steady headway and went 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and ran on one pace
in rear, awkward 1st, not fluent 7th, ridden after 2 out and dropped away
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, faded before 2 out
raced in 4th, tracked front pair after 4 out, led 3 out, ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, kept on well
prominent, close 2nd when not fluent 3 out, ridden 2 out and soon beaten
Minella Drama has won four times over fences since last seen over hurdles and is not without a chance in this. Sholokjack hasn’t shown much back over timber, however, while the hat-trick seeking Classic Lord is 5lb out of the handicap, though his rider claims back all of that and more. Ted Hastings wasn’t beaten far on his penultimate start at Galway and BUCKSY DES EPEIRES (NAP) ran well over 2m at Sandown after winning his maiden at Lingfield. The four-year-old will relish a return to a longer trip. Resplendent Grey didn’t do himself justice on his handicap debut and shouldn’t be written off just yet.
Minella Drama (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Led, joined 6th, headed 10th, tracked winner until 4 out, weakened 2 out, tired jump next, 3rd of 4, dist behind Pic D'Orhy (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gd in Nov.
Ted Hastings (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Mid-division, slightly hampered at 1st, 13th and ridden 2 out, soon no impression, checked briefly after last, no extra, 8th of 19, 12 3/4l behind Common Practice (10-12) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Resplendent Grey (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Keen raced wide close up, ridden 2 out, weakened before next, 7th of 9, 20 1/4l behind Springwell Bay (12-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Sholokjack (IRE) 22-1 (10-8) In rear, in touch, not fluent 6th, slow jump next, pushed along 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Operation Manna (10-6) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Bucksy Des Epeires (FR) 9-1 (10-2) Pressed leader, pushed along and slightly outpaced before 2 out, ridden and kept on after 2 out, no match for winner, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Spirit D'aunou (10-10) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Bingoo 7-4 (12-0) Tracked leaders, headway after 2 out, led home turn, pushed out run-in, challenged and ridden towards finish, just held on, won at Hexham 2m (4) sft in Apr beating Bella Bliss (11-7) by nk, 11 ran.
Classic Lord (GER) 5-2 (11-7) Made all, a length ahead 3 out, soon ridden, maintained advantage 2 out, stayed on strongly approaching last, pushed out run-in, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (4) hvy in Dec beating Two Auld Pals (11-0) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.
