tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden next, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 11th, chased winner from 3 out, hit and no further impression
led, headed 2nd, hit 5 out, weakened
in touch, lost place 6th, tailed off 11th
always in rear, pulled up before last
mid-division, mistake 13th, weakened and pulled up 2 out
hampered 1st, mid-division, weakening when mistake 13th
in touch, tracked winner from 11th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, mistake 7th, beaten from 11th
mid-division, mistake 4th, ridden and plugged on from 3 out to take 3rd 2 out
prominent, led 2nd, headed 7th, weakened 11th
hampered 1st, never better than finishing position
towards rear, some progress after 11th, mid-division and held, when pulled up before last
tracked leaders, led 7th, clear advantage from 12th, ran on
in rear, mistake 12th, pulled up before 4 out
in touch, blundered 1st, lost places, beaten when mistake 9th, pulled up before next
hampered 1st, mid-division, ridden 7th, jumped left 11th, kept on under pressure, no chance with front trio
Nonrunner
Oracle des Mottes deserves to get his head in front having not been out of the first three in his last seven starts but there is a suspicion that he may just be a shade high in the weights at present so preference is for SAUNDERS ROAD, who gets the verdict with Brave Rebellion rated the pick of the remainder. The selection has been running consistently well, like Oracle des Mottes, but there could be more to come from the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding judged by his recent success at Cheltenham that he was good value for and he is taken to defy the 8lb rise for that success. Paul Nicholls is also represented by Hoo La Baloo but he could do with some help from the handicapper, while Nicky Henderson's Boomshakalaka is capable but has disappointed in both starts this term so may be best watched now. The Alner's Miss Mitch stepped up on her reappearance run and would have claims if able to build further on that latest effort, while Something Wells disappointed last time and now looks best left out of calculations. Brave Rebellion has run well in all three starts this term and he should be involved at the finish again here but it is Saunders Road that is preferred and he gets the vote.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Held up behind, steady headway from 25th, effort after 2 out, one pace from last, 5th of 16, 16l behind Dix Villez (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) sft in Nov.
Something Wells (FR) 9-2fav (11-10) Chased leaders until hit 3rd, mistake 6th, soon behind, 11th of 13, 31l behind Master Medic (11-5) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
Oceanos des Obeaux (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Mistakes 3rd and 5th, always in rear, tailed off, 9th of 18, 47l behind Fleet Street (11-10) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.
Iron Man (FR) 11-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, ridden after 14th, weakened after next, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Niche Market (9-9) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
King Louis (FR) 40-1 (11-11) Hampered 6th, held up, some late progress, never a danger, 6th of 13, 17l behind Master Medic (11-5) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
Alright Now M'Lad (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) In rear, headway under pressure into midfield 12th, ridden and struggling when bumped 14th, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Fleet Street (11-10) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.
Palarshan (FR) 7-2fav (11-11) Held up towards rear, under pressure 3 out, some headway next, never dangerous, 5th of 10, 16l behind Bishop's Bridge (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Boomshakalaka (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) In touch, headway 3 out, effort next, edged right approaching last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Master Medic (11-5) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
The Hairy Lemon 25-1 (10-3) In touch, blundered 4 out, weakening when mistake next, 10th of 14, 42l behind Stan (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Oracle des Mottes (FR) 9-4 (11-12) Held up, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Pretty Star (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Harris Bay 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 9th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 9th of 16, 17l behind Cruchain (11-7) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
El Vaquero (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, soon no impression, 7th of 10, 41l behind Bishop's Bridge (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Brave Rebellion 4-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 3 out, challenged last, no extra close home, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Final Veto (10-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Miss Mitch (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led 9th until after 11th, prominent, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Gwanako (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f Grad Ch (2) gs in Dec.
The Wicketkeeper (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, hit 10th, headway 14th, no impression on leaders after 4 out, 5th of 18, 19l behind Fleet Street (11-10) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.
Bafana Boy 5-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, led 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 11, 16l behind Colophony (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Saunders Road (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) In touch, headway after 13th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, kept on well, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec beating Junctiontwentyfour (9-11) by 4l, 16 ran.
Cossack Dancer (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Led, hit 2nd, headed 9th, hit 10th, led after 11th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 46l behind Gwanako (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f Grad Ch (2) gs in Dec.
