towards rear, in touch, close 4th when mistake 2 out, pressed leaders going easily before last and soon led narrowly, pushed out and asserted run-in, readily
mid-division, in close 3rd 3 out, pushed along and led between last two flights, narrowly headed before last, ridden and kept on but no extra run-in
led, pushed along and headed between last two flights, weakened before last
held up in last in touch, not fluent 8th, pushed along 2 out, ridden and headway to press leaders before last, every chance after final flight, kept on, no match for winner
mid-division, ridden after 2 out, gradually faded
prominent, pressed leaders between last two flights, ridden and weakened before last
Blazing Khal beat GELINO BELLO and Current Mood over 2m5f here last month but connections of the runner-up will fancy their chances of turning the tables on 5lb better terms, though the step up in trip will suit the winner. Barony Legends could be anything after winning by 27 lengths at Lingfield but this is a stiff task for the prolific pointer Ballygrifincottage on his debut under Rules and Loughderg Rocco also has plenty on his plate.
Blazing Khal (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Not fluent on occasions, towards rear, headway when hit 2 out, pushed along to lead before last, collided with rival last, ridden flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Nov beating Gelino Bello (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Ballygrifincottage (IRE) (12-2) Chsd ldrs, 4l 2nd 1/2way, ld 3out, wo aftr 2out, redcd 1l adv bef last, ko flat, won at Ballingarry 3m gs in May beating Three Loud Knocks (12-2) by 2l, 8 ran.
Barony Legends (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Raced keenly tracking leader, led after 3rd, made rest, went clear from 2 out (normal 3 out), very easily, won at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Oct beating Ozzie Man (11-4) by 27l, 9 ran.
Gelino Bello (FR) 2-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went second 7th, niggled along to lead briefly approaching last, soon headed, bumped by rival last, ridden flat, kept on well, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Blazing Khal (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Nov.
Loughderg Rocco (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, closed 2 out, went 2nd from last, pressed winner briefly flat, held inside final 100 yards, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Mr Glass (11-3) at Newcastle 2m 6f (2) gs in Nov.
Current Mood 9-1 (10-10) Led, not fluent 2nd, headed and ridden approaching last, kept on flat, 3rd of 6, 7 1/2l behind Blazing Khal (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Nov.
