not always fluent, always behind, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, well beaten 3 out, tailed off
mid-division after slow jump 1st, not that fluent after at times, losing place 6th, behind before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway after 5th, lost ground on leaders 3 out, closed before last, led final 50 yards, stayed on well
prominent, not fluent 3 out, challenging after 2 out, 3rd and held after last, kept on
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, hit 2 out, weakened before last
rear of mdi-division, ridden after 6th, not fluent 7th, soon behind, pulled up after 3 out
prominent on inside, led after 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened approaching last, tailed off
held up towards rear, well beaten before 2 out, pulled up before last
prominent, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on flat, went 4th towards finsih
mid-division, not fluent 9th, headway last, no impression, weakened final 200 yards
led until after 3 out, headed before 2 out, stayed on but hard pressed, headed final 50 yards
held up and behind, not fluent 8th or 3 out, headway 2 out, never on terms, jockey fiddling with iron briefly just after last, looked liked getting 4th briefly, no impression
soon mid-division on inside, struggling from 7th, pulled up before 2 out
Several in-form stayers clash in this. Kansas City Chief has already won twice under Victoria Malzard this season, beating Botox Has and Ask Dillon over course and distance last month. Stoney Mountain is back on song but seems to prefer flatter tracks and has never had much luck around here. Owner and rider David Maxwell has his critics but he’s been on board Dolphin Square for each of six victories under Rules while stablemate Pileon outstayed his rivals at Sandown. Art Approval should have no problem confirming running on the Old course here in November with My Bobby Dazzler but TAMAR BRIDGE looks just as progressive and might be better suited by this first try over 3m.
Cracking Smart (FR) (10-7) 6th of 9, 17 1/4l behind Eyes Groom (10-10) at Cagnes-sur-Mer 2m 1f hvy in Dec.
Stoney Mountain (IRE) 22-1 (11-5) Raced keenly in mid-division, hit 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, stayed on one pace thereafter, 4th of 12, 12l behind Dans Le Vent (10-12) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Ask Dillon (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along after 2 out, ridden before the last, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 9, 5 3/4l behind Kansas City Chief (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Dolphin Square (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Prominent, lost place before 6th, headway from 3 out, challenged last, led inside final 100 yards, leant on by rival, edged right and bumped same rival about towards finish, held on, won at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Flemcara (11-8) by nk, 14 ran.
Botox Has (FR) 4-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway out wide before 2 out, went 2nd between last two, ridden before last, stayed on same pace run-in, not pace to challenge, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Kansas City Chief (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Pileon (IRE) 5-2fav (10-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd between last two, upsides last, led and quickened clear run-in, won at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Dec beating The Cob (10-13) by 5l, 12 ran.
The Mighty Don (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Raced wide in mid-division, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, 33 1/4l behind Highland Hunter (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway on inside 13th, not fluent next, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Tamar Bridge (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway well over 2 out, mistake 2 out but soon challenging, every chance approaching last, ran on gamely and led narrowly closing stages, all out, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Pounding Poet (10-11) by shd, 13 ran.
My Bobby Dazzler 7-2jfav (11-12) Handy, led 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, drew clear after 2 out, not fluent last when in command, ran on well, unchallenged home straight, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Landofsmiles (11-8) by 21l, 11 ran.
Whatsupwithyou (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Mid-division, dropped to last 11th, headway 2 out, kept on same pace until no extra closing stages, 3rd of 8, 7 1/2l behind Kap Auteuil (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Kansas City Chief (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Raced keenly, made virtually all, stayed on gamely run-in, unchallenged, good ride, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Botox Has (10-11) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Art Approval (FR) 10-3 (11-2) Towards rear of mid-division, pushed along after 7th, headway approaching 3 out, pushed along to lead before last, stayed on well from last, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Paricolor (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 20 ran.
Sirobbie (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Held up, headway chasing leaders 7th, jumped slowly 15th, every chance 3 out, went well held 2nd and hit last, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Reve (11-7) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
