prominent, mistake 6th, ridden before 2 out, no impression on winner approaching last
held up in mid-division, well behind 4th
chased leaders, went left and awkward 1st, lost place after 3rd, well behind next
mid-division, well behind 4th
held up in mid-division, well behind 4th
led until after 1st, prominent, jumped left 2nd, ridden and no impression on winner before last
mid-division, remote 5th from 4th, mistake next, well beaten before 2 out
led after 1st, pecked 5th, clear before last, pushed out
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, closed after 6th, ridden and one pace in 4th before 2 out
Neville's Cross has shown up well for a long way in both starts over hurdles and is the type to improve while Dora De Janeiro made a promising start in a bumper here in December. GOOBINATOR won on the Flat at Southwell before an impressive winning start over timber at Wetherby. He started a short-priced favourite on a return visit but couldn't quite concede 6lb to Hasankey though he sustained a leg wound in the process. Compensation awaits here with the remainder having shown little though Special Brute showed glimpses of ability for Gordon Elliott in bumpers. Archi's Affaire, four-times a winner on the Flat, wouldn't need to be anything special to make his presence felt and could provide the main threat.
Archi's Affaire 28-1 (8-10) Keen tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Francis Xavier (9-8) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Elite Icon 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, kept on same pace, never near leaders, 5th of 12, 25 1/2l behind Cheddleton (11-4) at Kelso 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Elusive Red (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, hampered after 2f, headway over 4f out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, dist behind Blazing Port (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (5) sft in Dec.
Holme Abbey 25-1 (11-5) Prominent until weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 8, 37l behind Off The Beat (11-5) at Newcastle 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Ibn Al Emarat (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Held up, always behind, 9th of 11, 24l behind The Dancing Poet (10-4) at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Marvellous Joe (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Always behind, lost touch final 6f, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Crypto (11-4) at Newcastle 2m (5) gs in Mar.
Neville's Cross (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) In touch, jumped right 3rd, every chance when mistake 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 7, 9 1/2l behind Black Pirate (10-12) at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Special Brute (GER) 11-2 (10-11) Raced keenly, chased leaders on inside, ridden and weakened 2f out, 5th of 12, 19l behind Shanroe (11-10) at Perth 2m (4) gs in Jun.
Time For Another (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, dist behind Fix Sun (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
Goobinator (USA) 8-15fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led 2nd, headed after 2 out, led again and mistake last, soon challenged, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 10, hd behind Hasankey (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Dora De Janeiro (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, driven to challenge over 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner when lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 8 1/4l behind Kitty Hall (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (5) sft in Dec.
Flood Defence (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) In touch in rear, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Royal Cosmic (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m (4) gs in Jan.
