chased leaders, closed when not fluent 4 out, hit 3 out and left 2nd, close up 2 out, 4th and beaten last, no extra flat
chased leaders, slow and lost place 1st, mid-division when fell 5th
towards rear, headway when hampered 3 out, not fluent and no extra 2 out, weakened
soon led, clear when not fluent 5th, hit 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
chased leaders, not fluent 10th, went close 2nd when fell 3 out
towards rear, hampered 5th, well beaten 4 out
chased leader until 4 out, led before 2 out, headed flat and quickly held by easy winner
not always fluent in rear, headway after 3 out, close up 2 out, 3rd and no extra flat
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, challenged going well from 2 out, led flat, cruised clear
Though a winner here last month, Magic Saint was a couple of lengths behind stablemate Capeland at Ascot subsequently so it is no surprise that Harry Cobden sticks with the latter. ZANZA has improved with each run over fences and though his task at Newbury was made easier by several fallers he still won with something to spare. Ibleo would be a big danger if the ground turns soft but Sky Pirate’s attitude has been called into question on more than one occasion. Born Survivor looks held on the form book.
Magic Saint (FR) 11-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, led when mistake 2 out, soon headed, no extra flat, 4th of 8, 7 1/4l behind First Flow (11-1) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Forest Bihan (FR) 66-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, awkward 3rd, fell 4th, at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Capeland (FR) 11-2 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 7th, challenged 2 out, soon led, headed last, no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind First Flow (11-1) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Gino Trail (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Jumped left and not that fluent, prominent, led after 2nd, headed 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Zanza (IRE) 5-2 (11-3) Jumped right at times, held up in 5th, left 4th and slightly hampered 2nd, left 3rd at 5th, went 2nd next, left in lead 8th, made rest, clear before 2 out, stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov beating The King Of May (10-13) by 5 1/2l, 7 ran.
Born Survivor (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, 4 lengths 5th when blundered 3 out, struggling to get back on terms after, jumped left and not much room last, went 4th flat, 4th of 9, 13 1/2l behind Magic Saint (12-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Ibleo (FR) 5-2fav (10-8) Towards rear, blundered 6th, headway 4 out, challenged 3 out, led next, joined flat, headed close home, 2nd of 7, shd behind Amoola Gold (10-8) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
Nietzsche 7-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, pushed along before 4 out, headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden and reminders, kept on strongly after last without matching front pair, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Barton Knoll (11-1) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Sky Pirate 10-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, close 2nd when mistake 2 out, switched left flat, weakened final 75 yards, 5th of 16, 6 3/4l behind Coole Cody (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
