tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 3 out, no impression from next
held up behind, headway on outside 4 out, close up next, challenged towards stands side rail before last, ridden to lead narrowly flat, kept on well towards finish
pressed leaader, led before 4th, ridden when hard pressed before last, headed flat, no extra closing stages
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, ridden to challenge on inside before last, kept on and every chance flat, held towards finish
led to before 4th, tracked leader, lost place after after 4 out, no impression from next
mid-division, chased leaders 4th, mistake and lost place 6th, behind from 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, never on terms
behind, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next, tailed off
held up behind, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, went 4th between last 2, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no chance with front trio
Peregrine Run is on a roll and warrants respect having completed his hat-trick at Limerick in Listed company. Wholestone's jumping will face a stiffer examination in this grade, however, and he only beat West Approach by a length here last month when receiving 3lb. Pilansberg was all out to make a winning return at Fakenham and will need a lot more if he's to be competitive in this while fellow four-year-old Spiritofthegames will also need to up his game. BADEN (NAP) is still a maiden under Rules and the weight he gets from the previous winners could be the deciding factor. He was second over a shorter trip here on his hurdling debut last year but did better when third over 2m4f at Punchestown in the spring and could be about to fulfil his potential.
Crosshue Boy (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, 6th on inner halfway, tracking leaders in 5th when brought down 2 out, at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Peregrine Run (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) In rear, progress to 4th at 6th, travelled well into 2nd before 2 out, headway to lead after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on strongly, won at Limerick 2m 5f lst (1) Yielding in Oct beating Screaming Rose (10-13) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
West Approach 5-2 (11-6) Held up, in rear, mistake 7th, headway approaching last, went 2nd flat, stayed on, always just held, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Wholestone (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m (3) gd in Oct.
Wholestone (IRE) 2-1fav (11-3) Held up, in mid-division, not fluent when in touch 4th, mistake 3 out and 2 out, edged right and bumped into rival on last bend, led last, edged right flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m (3) gd in Oct beating West Approach (11-6) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Leith Hill Lad 6-5fav (10-12) Made most until narrowly headed 2 out, chased leader, led narrowly again last, driven and stayed on to assert towards finish, won at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct beating Lough Derg Leader (10-12) by 1l, 6 ran.
Pilansberg 15-8 (10-12) Close up in 4th, headway to track leader 4 out, ridden next, left in lead 2 out, driven out, won at Fakenham 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct beating Barkis (10-12) by 1l, 4 ran.
Baden (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Mainly mid-division, 7th halfway, progress into 5th 2 out, ridden to challenge entering straight, narrow lead before last, strongly pressed last and soon headed, kept on same pace run-in, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Woodland Opera (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Bally Gilbert (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Keen, led, ridden 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Mount Mews (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (6) sft in Apr.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up behind, headway after 4 out, led approaching last, soon ridden, ran on well flat, won at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Oct beating Progress Drive (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
