chased leaders, jumped left and mistake 4th (water), not fluent 7th, mistake 9th and 12th, weakened 4 out, pulled up after 3 out
in touch, not much room and lost place 14th, pushed along 15th, well behind 17th, pulled up after 3 out
held up in rear, headway 18th, shaken up in 4th and switched left 2 out, left 3rd 2 out, stayed on to close on idling winner flat, looked threatening towards finish until winner quickly found more when pressed
held up, hampered 3rd, mistake 11th, mistake 17th, soon pulled up
jumped well, made all, 3 1/2 lengths clear when left with increased advantage last, suddenly started to idle badly and tried to pull himself up, looked vulnerable towards finish, quickly found extra when pressed
chased winner, ridden and 3 1/2 lengths down when mistake and unseated rider last
held up, pecked 2nd, jumped left and bumped next, nit fluent 4th, closed 5th, mistake 18th, hung left after 2 out, left 2nd last, stayed on to close on idling winner flat, looked threatening towards finish until winner quickly found more when pressed
Court Maid put to bed any stamina doubts when running away with the Grade B Porterstown over 3m5f at Fairyhouse 12 days ago. She has a penalty but should take all the beating here if this run doesn’t come too soon. BLACK CORTON has never won over this far but he has placed over 3m1f and has plenty of class. Cheekpieces are added today to aid concentration and he may take some pegging back if Bryony Frost can get him into a rhythm. Haydock runner-up Commodore will also be prominent but he would have preferred more testing conditions while Potters Legend’s victory at Warwick came in a veterans’ chase. Storm Control was allowed his own way out in front over 3m1f here last month and that won’t be the case today.
Black Corton (FR) 11-4 (11-1) Led until mistake 9th, stumbled and unseated rider 10th, at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Nov.
West Approach 9-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, jumped slowly at times, closed 18th, went close 3rd 3 out, weakened before last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 6, dist behind Ramses De Teillee (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Court Maid (IRE) 17-2 (11-1) Chased leaders early, 12th after 11th, slight mistake 13th, soon improved, prominent travelling smoothly approaching straight, led from 2 out, asserted approaching last, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp sft in Nov beating Brace Yourself (10-10) by 13l, 20 ran.
Steely Addition (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, not fluent 9th, hit 10th, well adrift 11th, mistake 12th, ridden and tailed off after 13th, pulled up, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Storm Control (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Made all, not fluent 2 out, stayed on gamely, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Bermeo (10-0) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Commodore (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Jumped well, prominent, led before 3rd, clear leader travelling strongly 4 out, ridden before 2 out, well clear last, weakened quickly flat, headed final strides, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Snow Leopardess (10-10) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Potters Legend 16-5fav (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 12th, outpaced 13th, not fluent next, rallied after 3 out, led after last, stayed on well, won at Warwick 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Theatre Guide (10-13) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
