chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 3rd mistake 5th, not fluent and well beaten 3 out
held up towards rear, headway going well 13th, close up last, edged left flat, led towards finish, headed post
soon led, headed 5th, weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 8th, close up 3 out, lost place 2 out, weakened
held up in rear, effort to chase leaders 3 out, ridden before next, soon one pace and held
towards rear on outside, mistake 6th, behind from 9th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up after
chased leaders, mistake and hampered 12th, lost place and no impression after, well beaten 3 out
prominent, led 5th, headed approaching last, stayed on, every chance towards finish, just held
handy, every chance 3 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
held up on inside, closed 3rd, went 2nd 2 out, led before and jumped right last, edged right on landing, edged right towards finish, soon headed, led again post
in rear, blundered and behind 11th
mid-division, headway on outside 8th, lost place 11th, behind 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
Oldgrangewood and Kalashnikov finished 1-2 at Newbury just over a month ago and are weighted to dead-heat here, though neither has had much luck here in the past. Saint Calvados steps up from 2m and will have stamina to prove while Magic Saint has only won over the minimum in this country though can’t be ignored along with Cepage, who is probably a few pounds too high. Ok Corral is more of a stayer but a back-to-form Lalor would be attractively weighted and Irish raider Ex Patriot is usually thereabouts. Poker Play steps out of the novice ranks but we’ll take a chance that MISTER WHITAKER is fit enough to do himself justice. Mick Channon’s eight-year-old loves it around here and won a Grade 2 at the track when last seen in April.
Kalashnikov (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd and slight peck 4 out, challenged 3 out, led last, ridden and battled on gamely run-in, headed post, 2nd of 12, shd behind Oldgrangewood (10-6) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Saint Calvados (FR) 85-40 (11-4) Close up, shaken up between last 2, every chance last, ridden and outpaced flat, just lost out in duel for 3rd near finish, last of 4, 6 1/4l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Cepage (FR) 5-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 7th, 4th and one pace 2 out, kept on final 100 yards, carried right towards finish, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Warthog (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Magic Saint (FR) 3-1fav (11-9) Mid-division, closed before 4th, left 2nd 3 out, led narrowly flat, hard pressed, held on, won at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Bun Doran (11-12) by hd, 14 ran.
Mister Whitaker (IRE) 4-1cfav (11-9) Held up in mid-division, headway 8th, challenged 2 out, led last, edged slightly right towards finish, held on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr beating Got Away (10-11) by nk, 8 ran.
Outlander (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up, left 3rd at the 4th but leader (winner) clear, even further behind 12th, never able to get past the 2nd, 3rd of 4, dist behind Native River (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Dec.
Ok Corral (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 15th of 24, dist behind De Rasher Counter (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Lalor (GER) 5-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, jumped slowly, outpaced 6 out, stayed on into modest 4th, never a threat, 4th of 6, 16l behind Janika (11-10) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Ex Patriot (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Towards rear, 5th after 4th, progress to 4th 4 out, ridden into 3rd after 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, kept on run-in without threatening, 3rd of 7, 8 1/4l behind Battleoverdoyen (11-3) at Punchestown 2m 7f (1) sft in Nov.
Oldgrangewood 6-1 (10-6) Patiently ridden towards rear, steady headway approaching 4 out, 3rd between last 2, went 2nd 100 yards out, strong run to lead post, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Kalashnikov (11-12) by ns, 12 ran.
Poker Play (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Made most, not fluent 14th, driven and headed turning in, ridden between last 2, weakened after last, 5th of 7, 35 1/4l behind Wholestone (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (2) sft in Nov.
Ballyhill (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Prominent, mistake 5th, led 8th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 35l behind Valdez (12-0) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
