led, headed after 2 out, stayed on at same pace
tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, responded to press for lead 2 out, 1 length down last, switched right and quickened to lead close home
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
towards rear, under pressure from 4th, dropped to rear, never in contention
not fluent in rear, unseated rider 4th
settled towards rear, smooth headway approaching 2 out, quickened to lead 2 out, jumped right last, hung left flat, caught close home
soon tracked leaders, mistake 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace flat
towards rear, 2nd travelling well 3 out, pushed along approaching 2 out, weakened under pressure
mid-division, ridden 3 out, tailed off, pulled up before last
with leader early, mistake 3 out, remained close up, ridden before 2 out, weakened
Gold Desert won a maiden hurdle at Sedgefield last month but could only manage third under a penalty back at the same track last time. He still finished well ahead of another previous winner in Genever Dragon, who had also won at Sedgefield earlier when MAGNA MORALIA was beaten a length. But the latter has gone close on the Flat subsequently and can reverse running on today’s more favourable terms. Ring Of Gold and Fahad share a similar rating on the level and may prove best of those hurdling for the first time.
Genever Dragon (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up and keen, mid-division 4th, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 7, 24 3/4l behind Le Magnifique (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Gold Desert 10-1 (11-5) Led, headed 2nd, led narrowly 3rd, headed 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Le Magnifique (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Camahawk 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, awkward 2nd, lost ground 3rd, ridden before 2 out, weakened and well adrift last, 6th of 7, 36 1/4l behind Le Magnifique (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Castle View (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Last pair, jumped slowly 4th, never a factor, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Breguet Boy (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Clay Regazzoni 15-2 (10-12) Raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, weakened before 2 out, mistake last, 8th of 9, 24 3/4l behind Breguet Boy (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Fahad 11-4fav (9-7) Tracked leader, lost ground over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 15 3/4l behind Sweet Reward (9-2) at Newbury 1m 1f hcp (5) sft in Aug.
Grouseman 28-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up well in rear, headway on inside approaching 2 out, hit last, ridden and stayed on run-in, just missed 3rd, nearest finish, 4th of 8, 24 3/4l behind Adagio (10-12) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Magna Moralia (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Towards rear of midfield, headway between horses over 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Cornerstone Lad (9-8) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Monash (IRE) 17-2 (9-3) Towards rear, pushed along and headway over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 6th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Borodin (9-12) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
Ring Of Gold 13-2 (10-2) Always in rear, last of 12, 24 1/4l behind Bad Company (10-0) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Temper Trap 8-1 (8-9) Tracked leader until 6f out, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Alborkan (9-9) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
