Gredin made most and stayed on strongly over the trip at Carlisle and there's plenty more to come though this looks tougher with his penalty. Thunder Rock also has extra for a convincing victory at Wetherby while Bridge North caught the eye when staying on at Ludlow. Guardino's second at Wetherby was franked when the third came out and won easily but it's a long time since Hard Ground completed a double between the flags. STAG HORN is a smart staying handicapper on the Flat with five victories to his credit and was rated 103 when scoring at Pontefract last month. He could turn out to be useful over timber and gets the nod to make a successful start.
Gredin (FR) 5-2fav (10-12) Close up, pressed leader before 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon pushed along, ridden out edged left and kept on well run-in, won at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) sft in Oct beating Operation Overlord (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Thunder Rock (IRE) 13-8 (10-12) Mid division, awkward 5th, headway travelling well 2 out, led narrowly last, kept on well flat, won at Wetherby 2m 4f (3) gs in Nov beating Cobblers Dream (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Bridge North (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Last pair, modest 5th before 3 out, shaken up and plugged on in 3rd run-in, never nearer, 3rd of 6, 8 1/2l behind Current Mood (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f (2) gd in Nov.
Guardino (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Close up, pushed along before 2 out, headway before last, kept on run in, went second final strides, no match for winner, 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Harbour Lake (10-12) at Wetherby 2m (3) gs in Oct.
Hard Ground 1-2fav (12-0) Chsd ldrs; lft 2nd 3 out; led app nxt; drvn out, won at Friars Haugh 3m sft in Mar beating Passnotalegend (12-0) by 3l, 5 ran.
Kilcasey Gold (IRE) 300-1 (11-4) Mid-division on outside, lost place 3rd, well beaten from 7th, pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Mr Palm (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, mid-division when fell 8th, at Tramore 2m 4f hcp gd in Aug.
Howzat Valtat (FR) 150-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 2m (3) sft in Oct.
Stag Horn 4-7fav (9-12) Went right start, made all, niggled along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, ran on well from over 1f out, on top final furlong and eased closing stages, won at Pontefract 2m 2f stks (2) sft in Oct beating Notation (8-13) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Tre A Peni 400-1 (10-11) Always in rear, 7th of 10, dist behind Mot A Mot (11-4) at Worcester 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
