prominent, pushed along after 4 out, weakened 2 out
in rear, not fluent 3rd and pushed along, always struggling
mid-division, headway to chase leaders home turn, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on well but always held by front pair
front mid-division, ridden home turn, chased leaders 2 out, stayed on, not pace to challenge
towards rear, ridden and struggling 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, smooth headway to chase front rank after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, headway to chase front group after 3 out, pressed leaders before 2 out, ridden and led narrowly before last, driven out and stayed on strongly
chased leaders, pushed along and led 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened between last two
disputed lead, hit 2nd, headed and tracked leader 3rd, pushed along and bumped before 2 out, weakened quickly and pulled up after 2 out
disputed lead, led before 3rd, hit 3rd, headed and pushed along 3 out, soon ridden and well held
front mid-division, pressed leaders home turn, ridden and led before 2 out, soon strongly pressed, headed before last, ran on well, but held towards finish
ridden in rear, always outpaced and behind, never travelling
A cracking renewal of this Grade 3 and it should be run at a good pace with Global Citizen in the line-up. Last season’s Ladbrokes Hurdle winner Drop The Anchor represents Ireland but Samarrive makes more appeal. He won a Listed handicap at Sandown two weeks ago, though fourth Benson spread a plate that day and can get closer. Metier started favourite for that contest but proved impossible to steer and was pulled up so has questions to answer now. West Cork returned from a long absence to land the Greatwood at Cheltenham last month but No Ordinary Joe was only headed at the last and TRITONIC was a staying-on fifth. The latter is probably better going right-handed and could come out best of that trio today at the revised weights. Garry Clermont has gone up 5lb for finishing second here last month but Onemorefortheroad has done nothing but improve and can get in the shake-up again. Goshen can be brilliant on his day but would have preferred even more rain.
Goshen (FR) 4-1 (11-6) In rear, pushed along 3 out, minor headway 2 out, no extra soon after, 4th of 5, 11l behind Buzz (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) gd in Nov.
Drop The Anchor (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Slowly away and towards rear, ridden to progress under 3f out, stayed on into 5th 1f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 13, 4 1/4l behind Jesse Evans (10-0) at Navan 1m 6f mdn Yielding in Oct.
Garry Clermont (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Close up, headway between horses over 2 out, soon went 2nd, every chance 2 out, ridden to lead when jumped badly left next, soon headed, rallied towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Captain Morgs (10-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Metier (IRE) 10-3fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4th, went 2nd 4 out, weakened tamely before next, eased and pulled up between last two, at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Samarrive (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders 4th, led before 2 out, ridden stayed on strongly and came clear run-in, won at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec beating Zambezi Fix (10-3) by 8 1/2l, 11 ran.
West Cork 11-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders out wide going well, went 2nd 2 out, led ridden to lead and hung left approaching the last, driven and hung left run-in, asserted towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov beating Adagio (11-12) by 3/4l, 19 ran.
Tritonic 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and no impression in 5th before the last,, 5th of 19, 8 1/2l behind West Cork (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Llandinabo Lad 3-1 (11-12) Led, pushed 3 lengths clear soon after 3 out, ridden and headed soon after 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 12, 9l behind Hunters Call (11-8) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
No Ordinary Joe (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, soon led, pushed along after 2 out, headed approaching the last, hung left under pressure and lost 2nd run-in, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 19, 2 3/4l behind West Cork (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Global Citizen (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Keen led and soon clear, reduced lead 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Herbiers (11-3) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Onemorefortheroad 8-1 (10-8) Made all, pushed along after 2 out, hit 2 out, briefly pressed before last, ridden out run-in, stayed on well and in command from last, won at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov beating Captain Morgs (10-6) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
Benson 5-1 (10-12) Towards rear, pushed along after 2nd, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, went left last, stayed on again run-in, went modest 4th last strides, 4th of 11, 13 1/2l behind Samarrive (10-7) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Luttrell Lad (IRE) Evensfav (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 5th, challenged 3 out, led last, headed flat, held close home, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Jpr One (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Mack The Man (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, led flat, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Tulin (11-10) by nk, 7 ran.
