made all, 3 lengths clear when blundered badly last, did well to stand up, ridden out
raced wide close up, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace
in rear, mistake 5 out, weakened next, soon eased, pulled up 2 out
prominent until slow 9th, weakened before 4 out, soon eased, pulled up 2 out
keen close up, ridden to chase winner 4 out, stayed on one pace
close up, 3 lengths down when unseated rider 4 out
in touch towards rear, hampered 4 out, not trouble leaders
Winning bumper Can You Call hasn't progressed as expected over fences and has to concede weight all-round but CILLUIRID, who won three times in the autumn, reportedly suffered an injury at Sedgefield in December and can make amends. Da Vinci Hand scrambled home over shorter here in December but was well beaten at Newcastle while winning hurdler Shaws Bridge never got close on his chasing bow at Musselburgh but should be better for the experience. Just Call Me Al's three victories since September have all come on good ground so conditions may have gone against him.
Can You Call 11-4 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, not fluent 7th, went 3rd 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 8, 20 1/4l behind Le Ligerien (11-2) at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Cilluirid (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Mid division, struggling home turn, pulled up 2 out, at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Pepite De Belle 100-1 (11-0) In rear, pushed along 5th, mistake next, soon ridden along, behind 4 out, pulled up 2 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f lst fll (1) gs in Nov.
Dis Donc (FR) 33-1 (10-4) In touch, hit 11th, not fluent 15th, pushed along and detached 4 out, weakened before next, last of 4, dist behind Omar Maretti (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Da Vinci Hand (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, soon lost place and pushed along, ridden before 2 out, made no impression, 5th of 8, 9 3/4l behind Cenotice (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Shaws Bridge (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, bad mistake 4 out, soon beaten, never on terms, 5th of 7, 21 1/2l behind Broadway Joe (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Just Call Me Al (IRE) 5-2 (10-7) Held up in last, headway after 12th, went 2nd 2 out, led before big jump last, driven out, won at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Road Warrior (12-0) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.