held up, headway after 2 out, went 2nd last, driven to challenge when bumped flat, stayed on well to lead close home
held up in rear, headway on outside when not fluent 2 out, outpaced and no impression before last, went 4th flat
led until before 1st, tracked leader, led again before last, soon headed and beaten
held up, jumped slowly 3rd, no impression before 2 out
tracked leaders, led approaching last, driven, edged right and bumped rival flat, headed close home
edgy before start, soon led, headed before last, no extra
held up, headway approaching 2 out, pressing leader before last, 3rd and stayed on same pace flat
This is a step up for maiden Vintage Vinnie and he may be found wanting. Starluck is 6lb lower than when scoring over course and distance last year but the grey maybe on a downward curve while Street Entertainer's victory at Stratford in October came in a seller. LOUGH KENT has yet to win in this country but he ran his best race so far when chasing home stablemate Theinval at Kempton last moth and a similar effort here may well suffice. Goohar wasn't disgraced at Exeter on his reappearance and looks the pick of the remainder ahead of Very Noble and Kalimantan.
Starluck (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up last, headway approaching 2 out, 4th between last two, no impression when blundered last, 4th of 6, 12l behind Leviathan (11-1) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Lough Kent 7-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, went 3rd after 3 out, every chance last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Theinval (10-13) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl (0-130) (3) sft in Nov.
Street Entertainer (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, led after 3rd, not fluent 4 out, headed final 100 yards, no extra, 4th of 20, 4l behind Unique De Cotte (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Bothy 20-1 (10-8) Disputed lead until 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, 48l behind Foxcub (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Very Noble (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, brought down 4 out, in a race won by Theinval (10-13) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl (0-130) (3) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Goohar (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Chased leading pair, outpaced and dropped to rear after 5th, rallied before 2 out, left 3rd last, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Dormello Mo (11-10) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Vintage Vinnie (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) Led, headed after 3 out, one pace when hit next, no chance with winner before last, weakened flat, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Missed Approach (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Kalimantan (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Took keen hold tracking leaders, blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by As De Mee (11-11) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft, 9 ran.