tracked leaders in 3rd place, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on and lost 2nd place towards finish
held up mid-division, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
close up, mistake 3 out, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
always behind
held up mid-division, pushed along and headway before 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden and in 4th place before 2 out, weakened from last
made all, kept on well from last
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out went 3rd before last, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, no chance with winner
held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, kept on same pace
PARTHENIUS, a triple winner on the Flat when trained in Germany, made a bright start over hurdles at Plumpton despite only winning by a short-head as the runner-up was strongly fancied. Dan Skelton's charge will have learnt plenty and though penalised should remain unbeaten. Rockalzaro easily won a Carlisle bumper in May and made a promising debut over timber at Kelso when only beaten a length. Donald McCain's grey should reach the frame but Hello Bertie has been a beaten favourite in his last three starts and become disappointing. Almunther didn't win on the Flat but has been placed in his last two starts and looks best of the newcomers.
Parthenius (GER) 5-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, mistake next, every chance from last, hard ridden and stayed on under pressure to lead close home, won at Plumpton 2m mdn (5) gd in Nov beating William Hunter (11-0) by shd, 8 ran.
Almunther (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 2f out, ridden and edged right inside final furlong, soon hard pressed, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Restive (10-7) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (6) gs in Oct.
Auxiliary 28-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, never on terms, 8th of 9, 19 1/4l behind All My Love (9-12) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Calypso Delegator (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Towards rear, behind 6th, 13th of 16, dist behind Kalashnikov (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (3) sft in Nov.
Dutch Artist (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Dwelt, in rear, ridden over 1f out, stayed on into mid-division inside final furlong, never nearer, 10th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Hitman (8-13) at Redcar 7f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Frozon 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, 11th of 13, dist behind If The Cap Fits (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) sft in Nov.
Great Colaci 80-1 (10-12) Mid-division, struggling after 4 out, never a threat, 8th of 14, 29 1/4l behind Beyond The Clouds (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Heather Burning (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always behind, 9th of 16, dist behind Kalashnikov (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (3) sft in Nov.
Hello Bertie 5-2jfav (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 28 1/2l behind Barton Knoll (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Jacbequick 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, hampered when not fluent next, weakened after 6th, pulled up before 3 out, at Wetherby 2m (3) sft in Nov.
Rockalzaro (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Temple Man (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
The Steward (USA) 200-1 (9-9) Chased leaders in 5th, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, last of 7, 13 3/4l behind Success Days (9-9) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding in Aug.
Young Tom 16-1 (8-7) In touch, ridden 5f out, outpaced over 3f out, 12th of 13, dist behind Throckley (9-7) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
