pulled hard in touch, chased leaders 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
in touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, led before last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, effort before 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 3 out, soon no impression
behind, soon pushed along, detatched after 3rd, pulled up before next
mid-division, mistake 4 out, never dangerous
led, raced keenly, headed before last, no extra closing stages
mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, chased leaders next, never a threat
mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never nearer
behind, mistake 1st, hung badly right after 3rd, virtually unsteerable, soon pulled up
always in rear, weakened 4 out, soon tailed off
chased leaders, lost place 4th, no danger after
always behind, weakened 4 out, soon tailed off
Champagne At Tara appeared to throw away a winning position at Chepstow last month and has become expensive to follow. Tippmanboy couldn't justify favouritism at Bangor while William Of Orange was a thorough stayer on the Flat and may find this on the sharp side. He was trained on the level by Sir Mark Prescott, who also handled Deauville Dancer. The latter made a promising start over timber behind a potentially smart novice at Doncaster and should be winning soon but could find BLUE RAMBLER too classy today. John Ferguson has a terrific strike rate here with his novice hurdlers and the five-year-old was a Listed winner on the Flat in France and has been lightly raced.
Blue Rambler 13-2 (9-1) Took keen hold early, tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, lost place over 3f out, well beaten over 2f out, last of 7, 26 3/4l behind Deuce Again (8-7) at Nottingham 1m 6f lst stks (1) sft in Apr.
Champagne At Tara 8-11fav (10-12) Behind, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders next, led after 2 out, hit last, headed and no extra closing stages, 2nd of 10, nk behind Maxanisi (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Deauville Dancer (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led before 2 out, headed last, kept on and well held run-in, 2nd of 17, 3 3/4l behind Winter Escape (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Iman (GER) 100-1 (8-13) Pulled hard in rear, weakened and eased 2f out, last of 8, 23 1/2l behind French Navy (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
Rebel Roger 200-1 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Newcastle 2m mdn (5) sft in Nov.
Snow Prince 5-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders on outside, 2nd over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 4th of 5, 9 1/4l behind Starcrossed (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Tippmanboy (IRE) Evensfav (10-12) Led, soon clear, not fluent 3rd, headed 2 out, rallied last, every chance closing stages, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Final Nudge (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) hvy in Nov.
William Of Orange 17-2 (10-1) Close up, headway over 2f out, edged left and led over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Magic Circle (8-2) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Zakety Zak 200-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 12th of 17, 37l behind Unbuckled (10-7) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Mary May 14-1 (11-7) Ur 3, at Alnwick 3m mdn in Dec.
Hugh's Secret (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Behind, blundered 3rd, struggling before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Seraffimo 16-1 (8-3) Tracked leader, led over 8f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 10, 5 1/4l behind Billy Ranger (9-0) at Carlisle 1m 6f hcp (6) gs in Sep.
Lipstickandpowder (IRE) 250-1 (10-5) Took keen hold, held up, always behind, struggling 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 12th of 13, dist behind Berland (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Dec.